Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

तस्योपनयनं भूयस्तथा चांद्रायणद्वयम् । सुरासंस्पृष्टपात्रं तु सुराभांडोदकं तथा ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

tasyopanayanaṃ bhūyastathā cāṃdrāyaṇadvayam | surāsaṃspṛṣṭapātraṃ tu surābhāṃḍodakaṃ tathā || 29 ||

Translation

For him, the rite of initiation (upanayana) should be performed again, and likewise two Cāndrāyaṇa observances. The same applies to a vessel touched by liquor, and also to water contained in a liquor-jar.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/that (person)
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-रूप (genitive singular of 'tad')

• उपनयनम्: the upanayana (sacred-thread initiation)
• उपनयनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपनयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as object of implied injunction

• भूयः: again, once more
• भूयः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण (Discourse/adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण/समुच्चयार्थ (thus/also)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• आन्द्रायण-द्वयम्: a pair of cāndrāyaṇa observances
• आन्द्रायण-द्वयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आन्द्रायण (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (dvaya of cāndrāyaṇa)

• सुरा-संस्पृष्ट-पात्रम्: a vessel touched/tainted by liquor
• सुरा-संस्पृष्ट-पात्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्पृष्ट (कृदन्त; √स्पृश् (धातु) + सम्, क्त) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—'सुरया संस्पृष्टं पात्रम्'

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोध/पक्षान्तरसूचक (but/indeed)

• सुरा-भाण्ड-उदकम्: water from a liquor-container
• सुरा-भाण्ड-उदकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक) + भाण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'सुराभाण्डस्य उदकम्' (water in/associated with a liquor-vessel)

• तथा: likewise; also
• तथा: सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण (Discourse/adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ/क्रियाविशेषण (also/likewise)

Speaker

Sage Narada (teaching prāyaścitta norms)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Cāndrāyaṇa (double)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It emphasizes restoring ritual and ethical purity after serious contamination (surā-doṣa), showing that spiritual discipline includes concrete corrective vows (prāyaścitta) to re-establish eligibility for Vedic rites.

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

Indirectly, it supports Bhakti by insisting on inner and outer cleanliness and accountable conduct; devotional life is strengthened when one corrects lapses through prescribed vows rather than ignoring impurity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through the prescription of upanayana re-performance and the Cāndrāyaṇa vow, along with applied rules of śauca (purity) regarding utensils and water affected by surā-contact.