Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

तस्योपनयनं भूयस्तप्तकृच्छ्रं चरेत्तथा । समक्षं वा परोक्षं वा बलाच्चौयण वा तथा ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

tasyopanayanaṃ bhūyastaptakṛcchraṃ carettathā | samakṣaṃ vā parokṣaṃ vā balāccauyaṇa vā tathā || 33 ||

Translation

بالنسبة له ينبغي أن يُعاد أداء الأوبانايانا، وأن يلتزم أيضًا بالتكفير المسمّى تبتكرتشرا (taptakṛcchra)، سواء وقع الفعل علنًا أو سرًّا، وحتى إن حدث قسرًا أو كان كذلك بسبب السرقة.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; genitive of 'tad'

• उपनयनम्: upanayana
• उपनयनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपनयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; prescribed act (object of 'caret')

• भूयः: again
• भूयः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरर्थक (again)

• तप्त-कृच्छ्रम्: the taptakṛcchra penance
• तप्त-कृच्छ्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्त (कृदन्त; √तप् (धातु) + क्त) + कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—'तप्तं कृच्छ्रम्' (a 'heated'/severe penance)

• चरेत्: should perform/practise
• चरेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ (also/likewise)

• समक्षम्: openly; in presence
• समक्षम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् अव्यय-प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (in the presence/openly)

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय (Alternative connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थ (or)

• परोक्षम्: secretly; out of sight
• परोक्षम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (secretly/without being seen)

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय (Alternative connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थ

• बलात्: forcibly
• बलात्: हेतु/करण (Cause/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः (तसिल्/पञ्चमी-अर्थे); हेत्वर्थ/प्रकार (by force/forcibly)

• चौयणम्: theft (act of stealing)
• चौयणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चौयण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (reading as 'cauyaṇa'—act of theft/stealing)

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय (Alternative connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थ

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma/prāyaścitta context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Taptakṛcchra (penance); Upanayana (re-performance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It emphasizes restoration of dharmic purity through saṁskāra (re-initiation) and prāyaścitta (taptakṛcchra), showing that inner rectification matters regardless of whether the fault was public or hidden.

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

While not directly a bhakti-verse, it supports bhakti-life by prescribing purification after lapses—so the practitioner can return to disciplined worship with renewed eligibility and integrity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa/Vaidika ritual procedure: rules for saṁskāra (upanayana) and the application of specific expiatory observances (kṛcchra) as part of dharma-śāstric practice.