Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

सदा स्तेयं च रत्नानां स्वर्णस्तेयसमं स्मृतम् । ताम्रायस्त्र्रपुकांस्यानामाज्यस्य मधुनस्तथा ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

sadā steyaṃ ca ratnānāṃ svarṇasteyasamaṃ smṛtam | tāmrāyastrrapukāṃsyānāmājyasya madhunastathā || 36 ||

Translation

وسرقة الجواهر تُعَدّ دائمًا مساوية لسرقة الذهب؛ وكذلك سرقة النحاس والحديد والقصدير والكامسيا (معدن الأجراس)، والسمن المصفّى (ghee)، والعسل تُحسَب في الصنف نفسه.

Word by Word

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• स्तेयम्: theft
• स्तेयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of passive 'smṛtam')
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'theft'

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

• रत्नानाम्: of jewels
• रत्नानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• स्वर्णस्तेयसमम्: equal to gold-theft
• स्वर्णस्तेयसमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ण-स्तेय-सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: स्वर्णस्तेयेण समम् (equal to gold-theft)

• स्मृतम्: is considered
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग: 'is said/considered'

• ताम्रायस्त्रपुकांस्यानाम्: of copper, iron, tin, and bell-metal
• ताम्रायस्त्रपुकांस्यानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्र-अयस-त्रपु-कांस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: ताम्रम् च अयः च त्रपु च कांस्यम् च (of copper, iron, tin, and bell-metal)

• आज्यस्य: of ghee
• आज्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• मधुनः: of honey
• मधुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अनुकरणार्थ (adverb: 'likewise/also')

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada, teaching Dharma classifications)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that taking others’ essential or highly valued possessions (like gems, gold, and key household resources) is a serious adharma, producing heavy karmic demerit and social harm.

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

Bhakti is grounded in purity of conduct; refraining from steya (theft) protects sattva and supports sincere worship, since devotion to Vishnu is incompatible with exploitation and dishonesty.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga is taught directly; the verse functions as Dharma-nirṇaya (ethical determination) in a smriti-like style, useful for applying rules of conduct in daily life and ritual society.