Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites

Devanagari script

चाण्डालपुल्पसानां च भुक्त्वा हत्वा च योषितम् । कृच्छ्रार्ध्दमाचरेज्ज्ञानादज्ञानादैन्दवद्वयम् ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

cāṇḍālapulpasānāṃ ca bhuktvā hatvā ca yoṣitam | kṛcchrārdhdamācarejjñānādajñānādaindavadvayam || 27 ||

Translation

চাণ্ডাল বা পুল্পসদের অন্ন খেয়ে, অথবা কোনো নারীকে হত্যা করে—জেনে বা না জেনে—মানুষের কৃচ্ছ্র প্রায়শ্চিত্তের অর্ধাংশ পালন করা উচিত; এবং সঙ্গে দুইটি ঐন্দব (চন্দ্র-সম্পর্কিত) ব্রতও করা উচিত।

Word by Word

• चाण्डाल-पुल्पसानाम्: of caṇḍālas and pulpasas
• चाण्डाल-पुल्पसानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक) + पुल्पस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (चाण्डालाश्च पुल्पसाश्च)

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

• भुक्त्वा: having eaten
• भुक्त्वा: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund)

• हत्वा: having killed
• हत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund)

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

• योषितम्: a woman
• योषितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कृच्छ्र-अर्धम्: half of the kṛcchra penance
• कृच्छ्र-अर्धम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कृच्छ्रस्य अर्धम्)

• आचरेत्: should perform
• आचरेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ज्ञानात्: knowingly
• ज्ञानात्: हेतु (Hetu/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• अज्ञानात्: unknowingly
• अज्ञानात्: हेतु (Hetu/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• ऐन्दव-द्वयम्: a pair of āindava (cāndrāyaṇa) observances
• ऐन्दव-द्वयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐन्दव (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (द्वे ऐन्दवे—‘two cāndrāyaṇas’)

Speaker

Sage Nārada (teaching prāyaścitta within a dharma instruction section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kṛcchra (half) and Aindava (two moon-related fasts)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It frames expiation (prāyaścitta) as a dhārmic method to restore inner and ritual purity after serious transgressions, emphasizing corrective discipline rather than despair.

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

Indirectly: by prescribing purification vows, it prepares the practitioner for steady worship and mantra-japa, since bhakti in Purāṇic practice is supported by śauca (purity) and vrata (vowed restraint).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa/Smārta-ritual know-how is implied—how to apply prāyaścitta categories (like Kṛcchra) and vrata observances (Aindava fasts) based on the nature and intent (jñāta/ajñāta) of the act.