Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Maṅgalācaraṇa, Naimiṣāraṇya-Sabhā, Sūta-Āhvāna, and Narada Purāṇa-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

महापातकयुक्तो वा युक्तो वाप्युपपातकैः । श्रृत्वैतदार्षं दिव्यं च पुराणं शुद्धिमाप्नुयात् ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

mahāpātakayukto vā yukto vāpyupapātakaiḥ | śrṛtvaitadārṣaṃ divyaṃ ca purāṇaṃ śuddhimāpnuyāt || 39 ||

Translation

ولو كان المرء مُلوَّثًا بالخطايا العظمى، أو حتى بالذنوب التابعة، فإن سماعه لهذا البورانا الإلهي المنسوب إلى الرِّشيّين يبلّغه التطهّر.

Word by Word

• महा-पातक-युक्तः: one tainted with great sins
• महा-पातक-युक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + पातक (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त; युज् धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; 'महापातकेन युक्तः' (endowed with great sins)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• युक्तः: one associated (with)
• युक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (कृदन्त; युज् धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: even / also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक निपात (also/even)

• उप-पातकैः: with minor sins
• उप-पातकैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उप (उपसर्गवत्) + पातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; 'उपपातकैः' (with minor sins)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prerequisite action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): 'having heard'

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आर्षम्: sacred/ṛṣi-origin
• आर्षम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; 'ऋषिसम्बन्धि' (pertaining to sages)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शुद्धिम्: purity
• शुद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आप्नुयात्: would attain
• आप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta (narrator) conveying the Purāṇa-śravaṇa-māhātmya within the Narada Purana’s opening discourse

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It states the śravaṇa-phala (fruit of hearing): listening to this seer-authored, divine Purāṇa functions as a purifier, capable of removing even heavy karmic taints (mahāpātakas) and lesser faults (upapātakas).

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

By emphasizing hearing sacred narration as a means of inner cleansing, it supports bhakti’s core practice—śravaṇa (devotional listening)—as a direct purifier of the heart and conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Dharmaśāstra-style categorization of sins (mahāpātaka/upapātaka) and the practical principle of prāyaścitta (expiation), here framed as Purāṇa-śravaṇa as a purificatory discipline.