Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

असिपत्रवनं घोरं लालाभक्षोहिमोत्कटः । मूषावस्था वसाकूपस्तथा वैतरणी नदी ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

asipatravanaṃ ghoraṃ lālābhakṣohimotkaṭaḥ | mūṣāvasthā vasākūpastathā vaitaraṇī nadī || 4 ||

Translation

There is the dreadful Asipatravana (forest of sword-like leaves), the torment called Lālābhakṣa, the intensely freezing realm (Himotkaṭa), the condition of being reduced to a mouse (Mūṣāvasthā), the pit of fat (Vasākūpa), and also the river Vaitaraṇī.

Word by Word

• asi-patra-vanam: Asipatravana (forest of sword-like leaves)
• asi-patra-vanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asi (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक) + vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘forest of sword-leaves’)

• ghoram: terrible
• ghoram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of vanam)

• lālā-bhakṣaḥ: Lālābhakṣa (hell-name)
• lālā-bhakṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lālā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘eating saliva/filth’)

• hima-utkaṭaḥ: Himotkaṭa (hell-name; intensely cold)
• hima-utkaṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hima (प्रातिपदिक) + utkaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (adjectival: ‘intensely icy’)

• mūṣā-avasthā: Mūṣāvasthā (hell-name; crucible-state)
• mūṣā-avasthā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + avasthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘state like a crucible/melting’)

• vasā-kūpaḥ: Vasākūpa (pit of fat)
• vasā-kūpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasā (प्रातिपदिक) + kūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘pit/well of fat’)

• tathā: and also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषण/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb/conjunctive: ‘also/and so’)

• vaitaraṇī: Vaitaraṇī (river-name)
• vaitaraṇī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaitaraṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• nadī: river
• nadī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अप्पोज़िशन (apposition to vaitaraṇī)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages, conveying the teaching tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Vaitaraṇī

FAQs

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

It catalogues specific naraka-torments to emphasize karma-phala: harmful actions and adharma mature into concrete suffering after death, urging a return to dharma, restraint, and purification.

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

By starkly presenting the fearsome results of adharma, the text indirectly motivates taking refuge in sattvic living and devotion to Hari/Vishnu as a protective, purifying orientation that redirects one’s karma and conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharma-śāstra alignment—ethical discipline, avoidance of prohibited acts, and performance of expiatory rites (prāyaścitta) where applicable.