Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy

Devanagari script

पतनोत्पतनं चैव गदादण्डादिपीहनम् । गजदन्तप्रहरणं नानासर्पैश्च दंशनम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

patanotpatanaṃ caiva gadādaṇḍādipīhanam | gajadantapraharaṇaṃ nānāsarpaiśca daṃśanam || 12 ||

Translation

هناك سقطات متكررة والقذف إلى الأعلى مرة أخرى؛ والسحق بالهراوات والعصي وما شابه ذلك؛ وضربات بأنياب الفيلة؛ ولدغات تسببها أنواع كثيرة من الثعابين.

Word by Word

• पतन-उत्पतनम्: falling and being tossed up
• पतन-उत्पतनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतन (प्रातिपदिक; √पत् (धातु) + ल्युट्) + उत्पतन (प्रातिपदिक; √पत् + ल्युट्, उत्-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (itaretara: falling and leaping up)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• गदा-दण्ड-आदि-पीहनम्: crushing with mace, staff, etc.
• गदा-दण्ड-आदि-पीहनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + पीहन (प्रातिपदिक; √पिह्/पेष्? (धातु; ‘to crush/beat’), uncertain)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (with mace, staff, etc., crushing); ‘पीहन’ पाठ/धात्वर्थे सन्देह

• गज-दन्त-प्रहरणम्: striking with elephant tusks
• गज-दन्त-प्रहरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रहरण (प्रातिपदिक; √हृ (धातु) + ल्युट्, प्र-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तृतीया/करण-भावे तत्पुरुष (striking with elephant tusk)

• नाना-सर्पैः: by various snakes
• नाना-सर्पैः: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन; नाना-शब्देन विशेषित (various)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• दंशनम्: biting
• दंशनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंशन (प्रातिपदिक; √दंश् (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada Purana’s description of hellish punishments; dialogue tradition ultimately traces to Narada’s teaching)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It warns that harmful, adharmic actions ripen into intense, embodied suffering after death, reinforcing karma’s inevitability and urging a return to dharma and purification.

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

By highlighting the terror of karmic retribution, the text indirectly motivates refuge in Vishnu-bhakti and righteous living, which Narada Purana repeatedly presents as a purifier and protector.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga is taught in this verse; it functions as dharma-upadesha (ethical instruction) about karmic results, supporting practical conduct and expiation-oriented observances.