Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 103

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

मृदाभारसहस्त्रैस्तु कुम्भकोटिजलैस्तथा । कृतशौचोऽपि दुष्टात्मा चंडालसदृशः स्मृतः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

mṛdābhārasahastraistu kumbhakoṭijalaistathā | kṛtaśauco'pi duṣṭātmā caṃḍālasadṛśaḥ smṛtaḥ || 3 ||

Translation

Aunque uno se purifique con miles de cargas de tierra y con agua de decenas de millones de vasijas, el de naturaleza perversa—aunque limpio por fuera—es tenido por semejante a un caṇḍāla (un paria).

Word by Word

• मृदा-भार-सहस्रैः: by thousands of loads of earth
• मृदा-भार-सहस्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृदा (प्रातिपदिक) + भार (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—मृदाभारः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) + मृदाभारसहस्र (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः); Instrumental plural: 'by/with thousands of loads of earth'

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), emphasis/contrast

• कुम्भ-कोटि-जलेः: with water from crores of pots
• कुम्भ-कोटि-जलेः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—कुम्भकोटिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) + कुम्भकोटिजल (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः); Instrumental plural: 'by/with water of crores of pots'

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

• कृत-शौचः: even if purified (externally)
• कृत-शौचः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त) + शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त 'कृत' + शौच; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः ('whose purification is done'); agrees with दुष्टात्मा

• अपि: even/although
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) concessive 'even if'

• दुष्ट-आत्मा: a wicked-souled person
• दुष्ट-आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्ट (दुष् धातु, क्त; कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिकवत्) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—'दुष्टः आत्मा यस्य/दुष्ट आत्मा' (wicked-souled person)

• चण्डाल-सदृशः: like a caṇḍāla
• चण्डाल-सदृशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक) + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (उपमान-सम्बन्ध): 'like a caṇḍāla'

• स्मृतः: is regarded
• स्मृतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतभावे कृदन्त; passive sense: 'is considered/remembered'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches that external ritual cleanliness (using earth and water) is powerless without inner purification; character and intention determine spiritual purity more than ceremonial washing.

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

Bhakti requires inner sincerity, humility, and non-malice; mere outward observances without a purified heart do not qualify one for genuine devotion or divine grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Dharma-śāstra style teaching about śauca (purificatory practice) and āchāra (right conduct), emphasizing that ritual procedure must be supported by ethical discipline.