Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

Māsopavāsa (Month-long Fast) and Repeated Parāka Observances: Procedure and Fruits

Devanagari script

इदं पुण्यं व्रताख्यानं नारायण परायणः । श्रृणुयाद्वाचयेद्वापि सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

idaṃ puṇyaṃ vratākhyānaṃ nārāyaṇa parāyaṇaḥ | śrṛṇuyādvācayedvāpi sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate || 28 ||

Translation

Wer ganz Nārāyaṇa hingegeben ist, wird, wenn er diese verdienstvolle Erzählung vom heiligen Gelübde hört — oder auch nur rezitiert — von allen Sünden befreit.

Word by Word

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पुण्यम्: meritorious
• पुण्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• व्रताख्यानम्: the narration of the vow
• व्रताख्यानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत + आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (व्रतस्य आख्यानम् = account of the vow)

• नारायण: O Nārāyaṇa
• नारायण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• परायणः: one devoted (to you)
• परायणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण; 'devoted/intent on'

• शृणुयात्: should listen
• शृणुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वाचयेत्: should cause (it) to be recited / have it read
• वाचयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative) + विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• सर्वपापैः: from all sins
• सर्वपापैः: Apadana (अपादान/ablatival sense via instrumental: 'from')
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वाणि पापानि = all sins)

• प्रमुच्यते: is freed
• प्रमुच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a vrata-mahātmya context; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana

FAQs

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

It teaches that śravaṇa (hearing) and pāṭha (recitation) of a sacred vrata-narrative, when grounded in Nārāyaṇa-bhakti, becomes a direct means for pāpa-kṣaya (removal of sins).

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

Bhakti is shown as “nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇatā”—taking Nārāyaṇa as the highest refuge—where devotional practices like hearing and reciting sacred accounts become spiritually transformative.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes disciplined recitation (vācana/pāṭha) and attentive listening—skills aligned with Śikṣā (proper oral tradition) and the practical ritual culture surrounding vrata-kathās, rather than technical astrology or grammar.