Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

एतेष्वेकतमेनापि सङ्गकृत्तत्समो भवेत् । यथाकथंचित्पापानामेतेषां परमर्षिभिः ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

eteṣvekatamenāpi saṅgakṛttatsamo bhavet | yathākathaṃcitpāpānāmeteṣāṃ paramarṣibhiḥ || 45 ||

Translation

Selbst wenn man sich nur mit einem von diesen verbindet, wird eine Person diesem (Sünder) gleich. So haben diese höchsten Weisen auf die eine oder andere Weise ein Mittel zur Beseitigung von Sünden verkündet.

Word by Word

• eteṣu: among these
• eteṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; demonstrative pronoun: “among these”

• eka-tamena: by any one (of them)
• eka-tamena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + tama (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; superlative/indefinite: “by any one (of them)”

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (सम्भावना/अपि)

• saṅga-kṛt: one who associates (with such acts/people)
• saṅga-kṛt: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Agent noun (कृदन्त, क्विप्/कृत्-प्रत्यय), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—“saṅgaṃ karoti” (one who associates/consorts)

• tat-samaḥ: equal to that (sin)
• tat-samaḥ: Pratipādya-viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) — predicate adjective of saṅga-kṛt
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tat (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; “equal to that”

• bhavet: would become
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Optative/Potential (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• yathā-kathaṃcit: somehow/in any manner
• yathā-kathaṃcit: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — adverbial modifier
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + kathaṃcit (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverbial compound (अव्ययीभाव), indeclinable; “somehow/in any way”

• pāpānām: of sins
• pāpānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; “of sins”

• eteṣām: of these
• eteṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; “of these”

• parama-ṛṣibhiḥ: by the great sages
• parama-ṛṣibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण) / Kartṛ (कर्ता) in passive sense (implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; कर्मधारयः—“paramāḥ ṛṣayaḥ” (supreme sages); “by the great sages”

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada, continuing the instructional discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Paramarshi (supreme sages)

FAQs

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

It teaches that satsanga (holy association) is itself a powerful purifier: even contact with one truly holy person or sacred path can elevate the seeker and diminish sin.

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

Bhakti is strengthened through proximity to the bhakta and the bhakti-marga; association transmits values, practices (śravaṇa-kīrtana), and steadiness, making one “equal” in disposition to the devotee.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse does not teach a specific Vedanga technique; it emphasizes a practical dharmic principle used across Vedic tradition—saṅga as a method for ethical and spiritual refinement.