Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

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

Devanagari script

कथयन्तश्च तत्कर्म नयन्ते नरकान्क्रमात् । अन्यं भजन्ते भूपाल पतिं त्यक्त्वा च याः स्त्रियः ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

kathayantaśca tatkarma nayante narakānkramāt | anyaṃ bhajante bhūpāla patiṃ tyaktvā ca yāḥ striyaḥ || 72 ||

Translation

وأولئك الذين يتحدثون باستحسان عن مثل هذا السلوك يقودون (أنفسهم والآخرين) خطوة بخطوة إلى الجحيم. أيها الملك، النساء اللواتي يتركن أزواجهن ويعاشرن آخرين (يتعرضن أيضًا لمثل هذا السقوط).

Word by Word

• कथयन्तः: (those) narrating/telling
• कथयन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथयत् (कृदन्त; √कथय्)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘कर्म’

• कर्म: deed/act
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• नयन्ते: they lead (themselves/are led)
• नयन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नरकान्: hells
• नरकान्: Karma (कर्म/Object; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• क्रमात्: in sequence/gradually
• क्रमात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (5th) एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभाववत्; क्रियाविशेषण (in due order/gradually)

• अन्यम्: another (man)
• अन्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• भजन्ते: they resort to/consort with
• भजन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• भूपाल: O king
• भूपाल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having abandoned)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• याः: who (women)
• याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to याः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada; addressed to the king as 'bhūpāla')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Secondary Rasa: raudra (anger)

FAQs

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

It warns that not only wrongful acts, but also endorsing or narrating them approvingly, becomes a cause of spiritual decline—leading one gradually toward naraka; it also stresses the gravity of breaking marital vows.

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

By implication, bhakti requires śuddha-ācāra (pure conduct) and śuddha-vāk (pure speech); praising adharma and violating vows obstruct devotion by strengthening pāpa-saṃskāras and turning the mind away from dharmic living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga is taught directly; the practical takeaway is dharma-nīti regarding speech (vāk-śuddhi) and household ethics (gṛhastha-dharma), which support correct ritual and devotional life.