Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

जलाग्न्युद्वन्धनभ्रष्टाः प्रव्रज्यानाशकच्युताः । विषप्रपतनध्वस्ताः शस्त्रघातहताश्च ये ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

jalāgnyudvandhanabhraṣṭāḥ pravrajyānāśakacyutāḥ | viṣaprapatanadhvastāḥ śastraghātahatāśca ye || 21 ||

Translation

Those who have perished through water or fire; those who have died from hanging by a noose; those who have deviated through the ruin of their renunciant discipline; those destroyed by poison or by falling from a height; and those slain by blows of weapons—whoever they may be.

Word by Word

• jala-agni-udvandhana-bhraṣṭāḥ: those ruined by water, fire, or hanging
• jala-agni-udvandhana-bhraṣṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + udvandhana (प्रातिपदिक) + bhraṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from भ्रंश्/भ्रश्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वसमास-प्रायः (listing causes); ‘fallen due to water, fire, hanging’

• pravrajyā-nāśaka-cyutāḥ: those fallen (from vows/renunciation) by destroying the pravrajyā
• pravrajyā-nāśaka-cyutāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pravrajyā (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśaka (प्रातिपदिक) + cyuta (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from च्युत्/च्यु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; तत्त्वपुरुष-समासः (cyutāḥ = ‘fallen from’); ‘fallen from pravrajyā due to destroying (it)’

• viṣa-prapatana-dhvastāḥ: those destroyed by poison or by falling
• viṣa-prapatana-dhvastāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + prapatana (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvasta (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from ध्वंस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; द्वन्द्ववत्-समाहारः (poison or falling); ‘destroyed by poison/falling’

• śastra-ghāta-hatāḥ: those killed by a weapon-blow
• śastra-ghāta-hatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śastra (प्रातिपदिक) + ghāta (प्रातिपदिक) + hata (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from हन् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; तत्त्वपुरुष-समासः (‘śastreṇa ghātena hatāḥ’)

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• ye: who/those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; सम्बन्धबोधकः (relative pronoun)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It enumerates forms of destructive or irregular death (accidental, violent, or self-caused) to frame a Dharma discussion on karmic outcomes and the remedial means (such as devotion, vows, and expiations) taught in the Purana.

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

By listing extreme forms of downfall and death, the verse sets the stage for the Purana’s recurring emphasis that sincere refuge in Hari (Vishnu)—through remembrance, nāma-japa, and vrata—can uplift even those who have fallen into grievous conditions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is directly taught in this line; it functions as a classificatory verse used in Dharma/Prāyaścitta contexts rather than a technical instruction.