Shloka 5

Brahmavākya

Brahmā’s Pronouncement on Hari-nāma and the Non-punishability of Viṣṇu’s Devotees

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणः श्वपचीं गच्छन् विशेषेण रजस्वलाम् । अन्नमश्नन्सुरापक्वं मरणे यो हरिं स्मरेत् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

brāhmaṇaḥ śvapacīṃ gacchan viśeṣeṇa rajasvalām | annamaśnansurāpakvaṃ maraṇe yo hariṃ smaret || 5 ||

Translation

যদি কোনো ব্ৰাহ্মণ শ্বপচী-জাতিৰ নাৰীৰ ওচৰলৈ যায়—বিশেষকৈ ঋতুমতীৰ ওচৰলৈ—আৰু সুৰাত ৰন্ধা অন্নো ভক্ষণ কৰে, তথাপি যি মৃত্যুকালে হৰিক স্মৰে, সি উদ্ধাৰ পায়।

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणः: a brāhmaṇa
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्वपचीम्: a dog-cooker woman (outcaste woman)
• श्वपचीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वपची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• गच्छन्: going
• गच्छन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी-धातु; अर्थः—गच्छति इति

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial instrumental: especially)

• रजस्वलाम्: menstruating
• रजस्वलाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रजस्वला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying श्वपचीम्)

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• अश्नन्: eating
• अश्नन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः—अश्नाति इति

• सुरा-पक्वम्: cooked with liquor
• सुरा-पक्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying अन्नम्); समासः—सुरया पक्वम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• मरणे: at death
• मरणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• स्मरेत्: should remember
• स्मरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta (narrating the teaching attributed to Narada’s Vishnu-bhakti emphasis)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches the supremacy of Hari-smṛti (remembering Viṣṇu), stating that even severe transgressions do not obstruct liberation if one’s final consciousness rests on Hari.

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

Bhakti is presented as decisive at the final moment: sincere remembrance of Hari at death is portrayed as a saving act that overrides accumulated demerit, emphasizing inner devotion over mere external status.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught; rather, it reinforces Dharma-śāstra categories of impurity/transgression and frames them within a bhakti-centered conclusion—Hari-smaraṇa as the highest remedial principle.