Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites

Devanagari script

दण्ड्यास्तत्पुत्रमित्राणि प्रत्येकं पाणिकं दमम् । प्रायश्चित्तं ततः कुर्युर्यथाशास्त्रप्रचोदितम् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

daṇḍyāstatputramitrāṇi pratyekaṃ pāṇikaṃ damam | prāyaścittaṃ tataḥ kuryuryathāśāstrapracoditam || 20 ||

Translation

His sons and friends, too, should each be punished with a fine of one pāṇika; thereafter they should perform the prescribed expiation (prāyaścitta), exactly as enjoined by the śāstras.

Word by Word

• daṇḍyāḥ: (they) who are punishable
• daṇḍyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; ‘punishable persons’

• tat-putra-mitrāṇi: his sons and friends
• tat-putra-mitrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक) + mitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचनम्; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (‘his sons and friends’); here as object of implied ‘(are) punishable’/listing

• pratyekam: each (separately)
• pratyekam: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pratyeka (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम् (distributive adverb: ‘each, individually’)

• pāṇikam: of one pāṇika (unit)
• pāṇikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāṇika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘damam’)

• damam: a fine/penance
• damam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• prāyaścittam: expiation
• prāyaścittam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāyaścitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (ablatival adverb: ‘thereafter/then’)

• kuryuḥ: should do/perform
• kuryuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative) परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष बहुवचनम्

• yathā: according as
• yathā: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (comparative/according to)

• śāstra-pracoditam: enjoined by scripture
• śāstra-pracoditam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + pracodita (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from प्र+चुद् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; तत्त्वपुरुष-समासः (‘śāstreṇa pracoditam’); विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘prāyaścittam’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes accountability and purification: wrongdoing entails both social restitution (fine) and inner cleansing (prāyaścitta) performed strictly according to śāstra.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti by insisting on śāstra-aligned conduct and atonement; purity of action and repentance are treated as necessary supports for sustained devotional life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: prāyaścitta is to be done “as śāstra enjoins,” pointing to codified rules for expiations and fines within Dharma/Kalpa traditions.