Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7

Yajñamālī–Sumālī Upākhyāna: Merit-Transfer through Temple Plastering (Lepa) and the Redemption of a Sinner

Devanagari script

अलममत्यंतकष्टेन वृत्तेनास्मत्कुलेऽनुज । त्वमेक एव दुष्टात्मा महापापरतोऽभवः ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

alamamatyaṃtakaṣṭena vṛttenāsmatkule'nuja | tvameka eva duṣṭātmā mahāpāparato'bhavaḥ || 7 ||

Translation

Genug, o jüngerer Bruder, von diesem überaus schmerzlichen und schändlichen Treiben in unserem Geschlecht. Du allein bist böses Herzens geworden und dem großen Sündigen verfallen.

Word by Word

• अलम्: enough!
• अलम्: Prayojaka-nishedha (निषेधार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध/पर्याप्ति; interjection/particle)

• अत्यन्तकष्टेन: with extreme hardship
• अत्यन्तकष्टेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्यन्त (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + कष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः: अत्यन्तं कष्टम् (कर्मधारय)

• वृत्तेन: by (your) conduct
• वृत्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक, √वृत् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘वृत्त’ = आचार/चरित (conduct)

• अस्मत्कुले: in our family
• अस्मत्कुले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः: अस्माकं कुले (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अनुज: O younger brother
• अनुज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एकः: alone/one
• एकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘त्वम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण/emphasis)

• दुष्टात्मा: wicked-souled person
• दुष्टात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्ट (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: दुष्टः आत्मा यस्य/दुष्ट आत्मा (कर्मधारय)

• महापापरतः: devoted to great sin
• महापापरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (कृदन्त, √रम् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: महापापे रतः

• अभवः: you became
• अभवः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Unspecified (contextual speaker within the Adhyaya; an elder addressing a younger brother)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It frames adharma as not merely personal failure but a rupture of kula-dharma (the ethical integrity of one’s lineage), urging immediate cessation of sinful conduct (mahāpāpa) and a return to righteous behavior.

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

By condemning mahāpāpa and duṣṭa-buddhi, the verse implies that inner purity and dharmic conduct are prerequisites for stable bhakti; devotion to Bhagavan cannot thrive alongside deliberate wrongdoing.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Chandas, Nirukta, Jyotiṣa, Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharma-nīti—self-correction and restraint to avoid pāpa that obstructs spiritual progress.