Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

The Description of the Anukramaṇikā (Chapter-wise Summary) of the Varāha Purāṇa

Devanagari script

भगवद्धर्मके पश्चाद्वततीर्थकथानकम् । द्वात्रिंशदपराधानां प्रायश्चित्तं शरीरगम् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

bhagavaddharmake paścādvatatīrthakathānakam | dvātriṃśadaparādhānāṃ prāyaścittaṃ śarīragam || 9 ||

Translation

Nach dem Abschnitt über das Dharma des Bhagavān folgt die Erzählung von Gelübden (Vrata) und heiligen Pilgerstätten (Tīrtha) sowie die leiblichen Sühnen (Prāyaścitta) für zweiunddreißig Vergehen.

Word by Word

• भगवत्-धर्मके: in the section on the Lord’s dharma
• भगवत्-धर्मके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भगवतः धर्मके)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• वत-तीर्थ-कथानकम्: the narrative of Vatatīrtha
• वत-तीर्थ-कथानकम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + कथानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (वततीर्थस्य कथानकम्)

• द्वा-त्रिंशत्-अपराधानाम्: of the thirty-two offenses
• द्वा-त्रिंशत्-अपराधानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वात्रिंशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अपराध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (द्वात्रिंशत् अपराधाः)

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation/atonement
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शरीर-गम्: pertaining to the body/physical
• शरीर-गम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (गम् धातु-निष्पन्न, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; प्रायश्चित्तम् इति विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः (शरीरं गतम्/शरीरे स्थितम्)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Narada Purana’s topic-sequence; Anukramanika context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (general ‘vrata’ section referenced)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan

FAQs

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

It functions as a contents-marker: after establishing Bhagavata-dharma, the text turns to practical sacred living—vratas, tīrthas, and prāyaścitta—showing how devotion is supported by disciplined observance and ethical purification.

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

By placing vrata and tīrtha narratives after Bhagavān’s dharma, it implies that bhakti is not only inner faith but also sustained through devotional disciplines (vrata) and sanctifying associations (tīrtha), along with repentance and correction (prāyaścitta) when faults occur.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-practice orientation is emphasized: vrata-vidhi and prāyaścitta involve kalpa-style procedural knowledge (applications of Vedic ritual discipline), especially rules of observance and expiation tied to bodily conduct.