Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

धर्मलोपः शास्त्रनिन्दा गुरुतल्पसमं स्मृतम् । इत्येवमादयो राजन्महापातकसंज्ञिताः ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

dharmalopaḥ śāstranindā gurutalpasamaṃ smṛtam | ityevamādayo rājanmahāpātakasaṃjñitāḥ || 44 ||

Translation

The abandonment of dharma and the disparagement of the sacred scriptures are declared to be equal to the sin of violating the guru’s bed. Thus, O King, these and similar acts are known as the “great sins” (mahāpātakas).

Word by Word

• dharma-lopaḥ: neglect of dharma
• dharma-lopaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Uddeśya (उद्देश्य) — item being classified
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + lopa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“dharmasya lopaḥ” (loss/neglect of dharma)

• śāstra-nindā: censure of scripture
• śāstra-nindā: Karta (कर्ता) / Uddeśya (उद्देश्य) — item being classified
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + nindā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“śāstrasya nindā” (censure of scripture)

• gurutalpa-samaṃ: equal to (the sin of) violating the guru’s bed
• gurutalpa-samaṃ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of the listed acts
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guru-talpa (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; “equal to gurutalpa (sin)”

• smṛtam: is declared
• smṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया) — predicate (passive sense)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (स्मृ धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Neuter, Nominative, Singular; predicative: “is declared”

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• evam: in this manner
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• ādayaḥ: and others (beginning with these)
• ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) — subject of saṃjñitāḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); “and others/beginning with these”

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; संबोधन

• mahā-pātaka-saṃjñitāḥ: designated as great sins
• mahā-pātaka-saṃjñitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ādayaḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + pātaka (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—“mahāpātaka-iti saṃjñitāḥ” (designated as ‘great sins’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada; addressed to the King within the discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It equates rejecting dharma and insulting śāstra with one of the gravest transgressions (guru-talpa), stressing that spiritual downfall begins when reverence for dharma and scriptural guidance is destroyed.

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

Bhakti in the Purāṇic sense rests on śraddhā (trust) in śāstra and dharmic conduct; by warning against śāstra-nindā and dharma-lopa, the verse protects the foundation on which Vishnu-bhakti and sādhana can remain authentic.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the authority of śāstra as the pramāṇa (guiding standard) for dharma—an applied reminder relevant to disciplines like Vyākaraṇa and Kalpa (ritual procedure), where correct understanding and respect for textual injunctions prevent doctrinal and practical error.