Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

परस्त्रीगमनं चैव गुरुतल्पसमं स्मृतम् । भ्रातृस्त्रीगमनं चैव वयस्यस्त्रीनिषेवणम् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

parastrīgamanaṃ caiva gurutalpasamaṃ smṛtam | bhrātṛstrīgamanaṃ caiva vayasyastrīniṣevaṇam || 42 ||

Translation

إن الذهاب إلى زوجة رجل آخر يُعد مساوياً في الخطورة لانتهاك فراش المعلم. وكذلك الاقتراب من زوجة الأخ ومعاشرة زوجة الصديق.

Word by Word

• परस्त्री: another man’s wife
• परस्त्री: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (compound stem used as पूर्वपद); कर्मधारयः ‘another’s woman’

• गमनम्: going to; intercourse
• गमनम्: कर्ता-निर्देश (विषय/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √गम् (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियानाम

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• गुरुतल्पसमम्: equal to violating the guru’s bed
• गुरुतल्पसमम्: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + तल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्मृतम्: is regarded (as)
• स्मृतम्: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is considered’

• भ्रातृस्त्री: brother’s wife
• भ्रातृस्त्री: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (compound stem used as पूर्वपद); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘brother’s wife’

• गमनम्: going to; intercourse
• गमनम्: कर्ता-निर्देश (विषय/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √गम् (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियानाम

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• वयस्य: a friend’s
• वयस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitival relation implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (compound stem used as पूर्वपद); ‘friend/companion’

• स्त्री: wife/woman
• स्त्री: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (compound stem used as पूर्वपद)

• निषेवणम्: indulgence; sexual association
• निषेवणम्: कर्ता-निर्देश (विषय/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि-√सेव् (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियानाम

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Dharma instruction sequence)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It classifies sexual misconduct—especially violating another’s marriage—as a grave transgression that damages dharma, purity of mind, and social order, placing it among the most serious sins.

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

Bhakti is supported by śīla (moral character); this verse stresses restraint and fidelity as foundational disciplines that keep the heart and conduct pure for sustained Vishnu-bhakti practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Dharmaśāstra-style sadācāra (codes of conduct) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; it provides a practical ethical rule used to guide behavior and eligibility for ritual life.