Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 158

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

Devanagari script

शिव एव हरिः साक्षाद्धरिरेव शिवः स्वयम् । द्वयोरन्तरदृग्याति नरकारन्कोटिशः खलः ॥ १५८ ॥

Transliteration

śiva eva hariḥ sākṣāddharireva śivaḥ svayam | dvayorantaradṛgyāti narakārankoṭiśaḥ khalaḥ || 158 ||

Translation

Śiva ist wahrlich Hari selbst, und Hari selbst ist in Wahrheit Śiva. Der Böse, der zwischen beiden einen Unterschied sieht, fällt für Millionen von Kalpas in die Hölle.

Word by Word

• शिवः: Shiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• हरिः: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• साक्षात्: directly/in person
• साक्षात्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• शिवः: Shiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• द्वयोः: of the two
• द्वयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (संख्याशब्द-प्रयोग), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन (Dual)

• अन्तर-दृक्: one who sees a difference (between them)
• अन्तर-दृक्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + दृश् (धातु) → दृक् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अन्तरं पश्यति इति)

• याति: goes
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• नरकान्: hells
• नरकान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कोटिशः: by crores; countless
• कोटिशः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + शस् (तद्धित/अव्ययीभावार्थे)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial formation), शस्-प्रत्ययान्त (in crores/innumerably)

• खलः: wicked person
• खलः: Karta (कर्ता/Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It teaches Hari–Hara aikya (non-difference of Viṣṇu and Śiva) and warns that sectarian discrimination is a grave spiritual fault that blocks liberation.

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

Bhakti is purified when devotion is free from hatred or rivalry; honoring both Hari and Śiva as one Reality protects the devotee from offense and supports steady devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it primarily conveys dharma and correct theological understanding for worship.