Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 87

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

Devanagari script

ततस्तैलेन पूर्यन्ते कालसूत्रप्रपीडिताः । ततः क्षारोदकस्नानं मूत्रविष्टानिषेवणम् ॥ ८७ ॥

Transliteration

tatastailena pūryante kālasūtraprapīḍitāḥ | tataḥ kṣārodakasnānaṃ mūtraviṣṭāniṣevaṇam || 87 ||

Translation

ثم يُعذَّبون في الجحيم المسمّى «كالاسوترا» (Kālasūtra) ويُغمرون بالزيت. وبعد ذلك يُجبرون على الاغتسال بماءٍ ملحيٍّ كاوٍ، ويُكرهون على تناول البول والغائط.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-kāla-avyaya (indeclinable adverb: 'then/from there')

• tailena: with oil
• tailena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana

• pūryante: are filled
• pūryante: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pṝ (पॄ धातु; pūrayati/pūryate)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; Ātmanepada; passive/medio-passive sense: 'are filled'

• kāla-sūtra-prapīḍitāḥ: tormented in Kālasūtra
• kāla-sūtra-prapīḍitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + sūtra (प्रातिपदिक) + prapīḍita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; pra-√pīḍ/पीड्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa (multi-member): kālasūtreṇa prapīḍitāḥ (severely tormented by the Kālasūtra [hell])

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-kāla-avyaya (adverb: 'then/thereafter')

• kṣāra-udaka-snānam: bathing in alkaline water
• kṣāra-udaka-snānam: Karma (कर्म/Object/experienced act)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣāra (प्रातिपदिक) + udaka (प्रातिपदिक) + snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā (1st) or Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; contextually as next item/action: 'bath in alkaline water'

• mūtra-viṣṭā-niṣevaṇam: consumption/use of urine and feces
• mūtra-viṣṭā-niṣevaṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object/experienced act)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūtra (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣṭā (प्रातिपदिक) + niṣevaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; from ni-√sev/सेव्)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā (1st) or Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; dvandva: mūtraṃ ca viṣṭā ca; niṣevaṇam = 'use/consumption'

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (in dialogue instruction to Nārada; hell-description section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Kālasūtra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the inevitability of karmic consequence: harmful, degrading actions lead to degrading experiences, portrayed here through the imagery of Kālasūtra and forced impurity.

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

Indirectly, it motivates turning away from pāpa and toward purification and surrender to Bhagavān; fear of naraka is used as a corrective so one seeks righteous living and devotional refuge.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it functions as Dharma-śāstra style moral instruction, reinforcing ethical restraint and purity as foundations for religious practice.