Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

Yuga-Dharma Framework, Kali-Yuga Diagnosis, and the Hari-Nāma Remedy

Transition to Vedānta Inquiry

Devanagari script

वदंति वाचा धर्मांश्च चेतसा पापलोलुपाः । धनविद्यावयोमत्ताः सर्वदुःखपरायणाः ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

vadaṃti vācā dharmāṃśca cetasā pāpalolupāḥ | dhanavidyāvayomattāḥ sarvaduḥkhaparāyaṇāḥ || 68 ||

Translation

他们口中谈论达摩，心中却贪恋罪业。沉醉于财富、学识与青春，他们只会归向种种苦恼。

Word by Word

• vadanti: speak
• vadanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• vācā: by speech
• vācā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• dharmān: righteous things / dharmas
• dharmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• cetasā: by mind
• cetasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• pāpa-lolupāḥ: greedy for sin
• pāpa-lolupāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + lolupa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana (Plural); Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa ‘pāpe lolupāḥ’

• dhana-vidyā-vayaḥ-mattāḥ: intoxicated with wealth, learning, and youth
• dhana-vidyā-vayaḥ-mattāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक) + vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + vayas (प्रातिपदिक) + matta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana (Plural); Samāsa: Dvandva (copulative) with final qualifier: ‘dhane ca vidyāyāṃ ca vayasi ca mattāḥ’ (intoxicated with wealth, learning, and youth)

• sarva-duḥkha-parāyaṇāḥ: given over to all suffering
• sarva-duḥkha-parāyaṇāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana (Plural); Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa ‘sarveṣu duḥkheṣu parāyaṇāḥ’ / ‘duḥkha-parāyaṇāḥ’ (devoted/heading to suffering)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a didactic passage; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineages)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It warns that merely talking about dharma is spiritually barren if the mind clings to pāpa; such inner contradiction ripens into duḥkha rather than peace.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti requires inner sincerity—humility and purity of intention—so pride in wealth, learning, or youth must be replaced by genuine remembrance and ethical living aligned with devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline—aligning speech and mind—so ritual or learning does not become mere display.