Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites

Devanagari script

अग्निं प्रविश्य शुद्ध्यन्तिस्थित्वा वा महति क्रतौ । रहस्यकरणोऽप्येवं मासमभ्यस्य पूरुषः ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

agniṃ praviśya śuddhyantisthitvā vā mahati kratau | rahasyakaraṇo'pyevaṃ māsamabhyasya pūruṣaḥ || 30 ||

Translation

بدخول النار المقدّسة ينال المرءُ الطهارة؛ وكذلك بالمداومة على الاشتغال بقربانٍ ويديّ عظيم. وعلى هذا النحو، حتى من ارتكب زلّةً خفيّة يتطهّر إذا مارس الانضباط المقرّر شهرًا كاملًا.

Word by Word

• agnim: fire
• agnim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• praviśya: having entered
• praviśya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-√viś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्; here ल्यप् form -ya), indeclinable; ‘having entered’

• śuddhyanti: they are purified
• śuddhyanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śudh (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्/Laṭ), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sthitvā: having stayed
• sthitvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable; ‘having stayed/standing’

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

• mahati: in a great
• mahati: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with kratau (masc.)

• kratau: sacrifice (rite)
• kratau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kratu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• rahasyakaraṇaḥ: one who performs a secret (sin)
• rahasyakaraṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rahasya-karaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; rahasya + karaṇa)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; particle (अपि = ‘even/also’)

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; adverb (प्रकार)

• māsam: for a month
• māsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); duration accusative

• abhyasya: having practiced
• abhyasya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhi-√as (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्; -ya), indeclinable; ‘having practiced/performed’

• pūruṣaḥ: a man
• pūruṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in discourse to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

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

It teaches that purification (śuddhi) can arise through intense sacrificial discipline—symbolized by Agni and great yajñas—and that sustained observance for a fixed period (one month) can cleanse even hidden faults.

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

While framed as ritual expiation, the verse supports bhakti indirectly by emphasizing inner and outer purification; cleansing hidden wrongdoing makes the practitioner fit for sustained worship and devotion with a purified mind.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the verse points to prayāścitta-style disciplines and the role of yajña/kratu as structured Vedic rites with time-bound observances.