Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

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

Devanagari script

परस्त्रीलोलुपानां च नरकं कथयामि ते । तप्तताम्रस्त्रियस्तेन सुरुपाभरणैर्युताः ॥ ७० ॥

Transliteration

parastrīlolupānāṃ ca narakaṃ kathayāmi te | taptatāmrastriyastena surupābharaṇairyutāḥ || 70 ||

Translation

Nun werde ich dir von der Hölle erzählen, die für jene reserviert ist, die nach der Frau eines anderen Mannes gieren: Dort werden Frauen aus glühendem Kupfer, geschmückt mit schönen Ornamenten und von verlockender Gestalt, zu Werkzeugen der Qual.

Word by Word

• परस्त्रीलोलुपानाम्: of those lustful for others’ women
• परस्त्रीलोलुपानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर-स्त्री-लोलुप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; समासः—परस्त्रीषु लोलुपाः (locative tatpuruṣa: lustful towards others’ women)

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

• नरकम्: hell
• नरकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कथयामि: I describe/tell
• कथयामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु; कथयति)
• Form: लट् (present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया/चतुर्थी (2nd/4th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; here dative sense (to you)

• तप्तताम्रस्त्रियः: women (made) of heated copper
• तप्तताम्रस्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्त-ताम्र-स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—तप्तताम्राः स्त्रियः (women of heated copper)

• तेन: thereby/with that
• तेन: Hetu/Karana (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; instrumental adverbial ‘thereby/with that’

• सुरूपाभरणैः: with beautiful ornaments
• सुरूपाभरणैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरूप + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—सुरूपाणि आभरणानि (beautiful ornaments)

• युताः: endowed/ornamented
• युताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (कृदन्त; √युज्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘युक्त’ = endowed; विशेषणं (तप्तताम्रस्त्रियः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Narada

FAQs

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

It warns that violating marital boundaries (parastrī-gamana) is a grave adharma that produces painful karmic results, using vivid naraka imagery to cultivate restraint, repentance, and commitment to dharma.

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

By condemning lust and betrayal, it indirectly supports bhakti as a discipline of purity (śauca) and self-control; devotion to Vishnu is strengthened when the mind is withdrawn from harmful desire and aligned with righteous conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Dharma-śāstra ethics rather than a technical Vedanga; the practical takeaway is behavioral discipline (sadācāra) for householders—guarding the senses and honoring social vows to prevent destructive karma.