Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 103

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

मृदाभारसहस्त्रैस्तु कुम्भकोटिजलैस्तथा । कृतशौचोऽपि दुष्टात्मा चंडालसदृशः स्मृतः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

mṛdābhārasahastraistu kumbhakoṭijalaistathā | kṛtaśauco'pi duṣṭātmā caṃḍālasadṛśaḥ smṛtaḥ || 3 ||

Translation

Selbst wenn einer sich mit tausend Lasten Erde und mit Wasser aus zig Millionen Krügen reinigt, gilt der von böser Gesinnung—auch wenn äußerlich gereinigt—doch als einem Caṇḍāla (Ausgestoßenen) gleich.

Word by Word

• मृदा-भार-सहस्रैः: by thousands of loads of earth
• मृदा-भार-सहस्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृदा (प्रातिपदिक) + भार (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—मृदाभारः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) + मृदाभारसहस्र (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः); Instrumental plural: 'by/with thousands of loads of earth'

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), emphasis/contrast

• कुम्भ-कोटि-जलेः: with water from crores of pots
• कुम्भ-कोटि-जलेः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—कुम्भकोटिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) + कुम्भकोटिजल (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः); Instrumental plural: 'by/with water of crores of pots'

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• कृत-शौचः: even if purified (externally)
• कृत-शौचः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त) + शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त 'कृत' + शौच; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः ('whose purification is done'); agrees with दुष्टात्मा

• अपि: even/although
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) concessive 'even if'

• दुष्ट-आत्मा: a wicked-souled person
• दुष्ट-आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्ट (दुष् धातु, क्त; कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिकवत्) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—'दुष्टः आत्मा यस्य/दुष्ट आत्मा' (wicked-souled person)

• चण्डाल-सदृशः: like a caṇḍāla
• चण्डाल-सदृशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक) + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (उपमान-सम्बन्ध): 'like a caṇḍāla'

• स्मृतः: is regarded
• स्मृतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतभावे कृदन्त; passive sense: 'is considered/remembered'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches that external ritual cleanliness (using earth and water) is powerless without inner purification; character and intention determine spiritual purity more than ceremonial washing.

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

Bhakti requires inner sincerity, humility, and non-malice; mere outward observances without a purified heart do not qualify one for genuine devotion or divine grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Dharma-śāstra style teaching about śauca (purificatory practice) and āchāra (right conduct), emphasizing that ritual procedure must be supported by ethical discipline.