Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy

Devanagari script

स्त्रायुच्छेदं स्नायुबन्धमस्थिच्छेदं तथैव च । क्षाराम्बुपूर्णरन्ध्राणां प्रवेशं मांसभोजनम् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

strāyucchedaṃ snāyubandhamasthicchedaṃ tathaiva ca | kṣārāmbupūrṇarandhrāṇāṃ praveśaṃ māṃsabhojanam || 14 ||

Translation

Das Durchtrennen der Sehnen, das Lösen der Bänder und ebenso das Brechen der Knochen; das Eindringen in Öffnungen, die mit alkalischem Wasser gefüllt sind; und das Essen von Fleisch — all dies gilt als Handeln, das rituelle Befleckung bringt, und ist in Reinheitsübungen zu meiden.

Word by Word

• strāyu-cchedam: cutting of tendons
• strāyu-cchedam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strāyu (प्रातिपदिक) + ccheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (स्त्रायोः छेदः)

• snāyu-bandham: binding of sinews
• snāyu-bandham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāyu (प्रातिपदिक) + bandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (स्नायोः बन्धः)

• asthi-cchedam: cutting of bones
• asthi-cchedam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asthi (प्रातिपदिक) + ccheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (अस्थ्नः छेदः)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• kṣāra-ambu-pūrṇa-randhrāṇām: of holes filled with alkaline water
• kṣāra-ambu-pūrṇa-randhrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣāra (प्रातिपदिक) + ambu (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + randhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (क्षाराम्बुना पूर्णानि रन्ध्राणि)

• praveśam: entering/forcing entry
• praveśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praveśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• māṃsa-bhojanam: eating flesh
• māṃsa-bhojanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (मांसस्य भोजनम्)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa (disgust)

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes ācāra (right conduct) by listing actions that disturb śauca (ritual purity), reminding practitioners that inner devotion is supported by disciplined outward purity in vrata and worship.

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

While bhakti centers on loving remembrance of the Lord, Narada’s teaching here shows that devotional life in the Purāṇic framework is often paired with niyamas—avoiding impure or violent acts and maintaining bodily and ritual cleanliness to keep worship steady and sattvic.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) in practice—identifying conduct and contact that affect śauca/śuddhi during rites, which guides eligibility and correctness in daily worship, vratas, and other observances.