Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy

Devanagari script

रेतः पानं महाघोरं सर्वसन्धिषुदाडनम् । धूमपानं पाशबन्धं नानाशूलानुलेपनम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

retaḥ pānaṃ mahāghoraṃ sarvasandhiṣudāḍanam | dhūmapānaṃ pāśabandhaṃ nānāśūlānulepanam || 10 ||

Translation

They are made to drink semen—an exceedingly dreadful torment; their every joint is burned; they are forced to drink smoke; they are bound with nooses; and they are smeared with many kinds of sharp spikes.

Word by Word

• रेतः: semen
• रेतः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; रूपम्: रेतः

• पानम्: drinking
• पानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पान (प्रातिपदिक; √पा (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महा-घोरम्: very dreadful
• महा-घोरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत् पूर्वपद) + घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (very-terrible)

• सर्व-सन्धिषु: in all joints
• सर्व-सन्धिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/locative), बहुवचन; सर्व-शब्देन विशेषितः; समासः: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (all-joints)

• दाडनम्: beating/striking
• दाडनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाडन (प्रातिपदिक; √दड्/दण्ड् (धातु; ‘to strike/beat’) + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• धूम-पानम्: drinking smoke / smoke-inhalation
• धूम-पानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूम (प्रातिपदिक) + पान (प्रातिपदिक; √पा (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• पाश-बन्धम्: binding with a noose
• पाश-बन्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक; √बन्ध् (धातु) + घञ्/अ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• नाना-शूल-अनुलेपनम्: smearing with various spikes/thorns
• नाना-शूल-अनुलेपनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुलेपन (प्रातिपदिक; √लिप् (धातु) + ल्युट्, अनु-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाना-पूर्वपदेन बहुविधत्व; समासः: तत्पुरुष (various-spike-smearing)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It reinforces karma-phala: harmful or impure actions produce correspondingly severe results, and the Narada Purana uses vivid Naraka imagery to cultivate restraint, repentance, and commitment to dharma.

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

Indirectly, it motivates turning away from pāpa and toward sattvic living—preparing the practitioner for steady Vishnu-bhakti by emphasizing moral purity and fear of wrongdoing’s consequences.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-ethics (dharma) is emphasized rather than a specific Vedāṅga; the practical takeaway is self-regulation and expiatory awareness (prāyaścitta orientation) to prevent actions that lead to grievous karmic results.