Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 83

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

Devanagari script

चांद्रायणत्रयं प्रोक्तं शूद्रोच्छिष्टस्य भोजने । रजस्वलां च चांडालं महापातकिनं तथा ॥ ८३ ॥

Transliteration

cāṃdrāyaṇatrayaṃ proktaṃ śūdrocchiṣṭasya bhojane | rajasvalāṃ ca cāṃḍālaṃ mahāpātakinaṃ tathā || 83 ||

Translation

It is declared that three Cāndrāyaṇa observances are the expiation for eating the leftover food of a Śūdra; likewise, the same expiation applies in the case of (contact with) a menstruating woman, a Cāṇḍāla, and a great sinner (mahāpātakin).

Word by Word

• चान्द्रायण-त्रयम्: a set of three Cāndrāyaṇa penances
• चान्द्रायण-त्रयम्: विधेय (विधेयम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चान्द्रायण (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; त्रयम् चान्द्रायणानाम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय (विधेयम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘said/declared’

• शूद्र-उच्छिष्टस्य: of a Śūdra’s leftovers
• शूद्र-उच्छिष्टस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उच्छिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; शूद्रस्य उच्छिष्टम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• भोजने: in eating
• भोजने: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• रजस्वलाम्: a menstruating woman
• रजस्वलाम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस्वला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (समुच्चयः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• चाण्डालम्: a Caṇḍāla
• चाण्डालम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• महापातकिनम्: a great sinner
• महापातकिनम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + पातकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; महांश्चासौ पातकी (कर्मधारयः)

• तथा: likewise; also
• तथा: समुच्चय/प्रकार (प्रकारः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/particle: ‘likewise/also’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on dharma and prāyaścitta)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Cāndrāyaṇa-vrata (three times)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Cāndrāyaṇa
• Śūdra
• Rajasvalā
• Cāṇḍāla
• Mahāpātakin

FAQs

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

The verse frames purification as a disciplined vrata (Cāndrāyaṇa) that restores ritual and ethical order after acts considered polluting, emphasizing self-restraint and corrective practice rather than mere condemnation.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports a bhakti-oriented life by prescribing inner and outer cleanliness and regulated conduct—seen as supportive disciplines (aṅgas) for sustained worship and sādhana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual practice and calendrical discipline: Cāndrāyaṇa is a lunar-based penance tied to tithi/phase regulation, aligning observance with traditional time-reckoning used in Vedic ritual contexts.