Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 102

Jyotiṣa-saṅgraha: Varga-vibhāga, Bala-nirṇaya, Garbha-phala, Āyuḥ-gaṇanā

Devanagari script

चंद्रांगपापैर्भांत्यस्थैः सेंवुपापचतुष्टयैः । चक्रपूर्वापरे पापसौम्यैः कीटतनौ मृतिः ॥ १०२ ॥

Transliteration

caṃdrāṃgapāpairbhāṃtyasthaiḥ seṃvupāpacatuṣṭayaiḥ | cakrapūrvāpare pāpasaumyaiḥ kīṭatanau mṛtiḥ || 102 ||

Translation

Durch Sünden, die mit den Mond‑Nakshatras und den Planetstationen verbunden sind, durch ein besonderes Vierer‑Bündel von Vergehen, sowie durch Sünden, die in früheren und späteren Zyklen als hart und mild gelten, begegnet man dem Tod, während man im Leib eines Wurmes (Insekts) wohnt.

Word by Word

• चन्द्र-अङ्ग-पापैः: by the evils in the Moon’s limbs
• चन्द्र-अङ्ग-पापैः: करण (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चन्द्रस्य अङ्गे पापाः)

• भान्ति-अस्थैः: by the ‘Bhānti’ bones/positions
• भान्ति-अस्थैः: करण (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भान्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (भान्ति-नामक-अस्थ)

• सेम्बु-पाप-चतुष्टयैः: by the fourfold evils called ‘Sembu’
• सेम्बु-पाप-चतुष्टयैः: करण (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेम्बु (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सेम्बु-सम्बद्धं पाप-चतुष्टयम्)

• चक्र-पूर्व-अपरे: in the earlier and later (parts) of the cycle
• चक्र-पूर्व-अपरे: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), द्विवचन/बहुवचन (पाठभेदसम्भव); समासः—द्वन्द्वः (पूर्व+अपर) ‘चक्र’ इति विशेषणम्

• पाप-सौम्यैः: by malefics and benefics
• पाप-सौम्यैः: करण (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (पापाः च सौम्याः च)

• कीट-तनौ: in an insect body
• कीट-तनौ: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीट (प्रातिपदिक) + तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कीटस्य तनुः)

• मृतिः: death
• मृतिः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्तृ/Subject), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Narada (teaching in a Moksha-Dharma context, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It underscores karmaphala with precision: specific categories of pāpa lead to degradation into lower births, here culminating in death while embodied as a worm/insect—warning the seeker to purify conduct and pursue mokṣa-oriented dharma.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti by contrasting the painful outcomes of pāpa with the need for purification and God-centered living; devotion to Vishnu is traditionally presented in the Narada Purana as a primary purifier that counters karmic downfall.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology) style thinking—linking karmic classifications to lunar/nakṣatra-related factors and cyclical divisions (cakra), implying that ethical life and remedial disciplines must be aligned with dharma rather than superstition.