Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 110

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

Devanagari script

तेषां सुखे जलौकास्तु पूर्य्यन्ते पन्नगोपमाः । एवं षष्टिसहस्त्राब्दे ततः क्षाराम्बुसेचनम् ॥ ११० ॥

Transliteration

teṣāṃ sukhe jalaukāstu pūryyante pannagopamāḥ | evaṃ ṣaṣṭisahastrābde tataḥ kṣārāmbusecanam || 110 ||

Translation

Alors même qu’ils semblaient en repos, des sangsues semblables à des serpents se gorgeaient pleinement (de leur sang). Ainsi durant soixante mille ans ; puis vint l’aspersion d’une eau alcaline.

Word by Word

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Puṃliṅga/napuṃsaka (contextual), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• sukhe: in/at the pleasure (i.e., in their comfort)
• sukhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī vibhakti (7/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• jalaukāḥ: leeches
• jalaukāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jalaukā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (1/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; virodha/avadhāraṇa particle

• pūryante: are filled/sated
• pūryante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pṝ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (लट्/Present), Prathama puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), karmaṇi-prayoga (कर्मणि/Passive)

• pannaga-upamāḥ: snake-like
• pannaga-upamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pannaga + upamā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (1/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); viśeṣaṇa of jalaukāḥ; components: pannaga (snake) + upamā (like)

• evam: thus
• evam: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; prakāra-bodhaka adverb

• ṣaṣṭi-sahastra-abde: in (the period of) sixty thousand years
• ṣaṣṭi-sahastra-abde: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṣṭi + sahasra + abda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Saptamī vibhakti (7/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन); kāla-adhikaraṇa; components: ṣaṣṭi (60) + sahasra (1000) + abda (year)

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; anantaram (thereafter)

• kṣāra-ambu-secanam: sprinkling with briny/alkaline water
• kṣāra-ambu-secanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣāra + ambu + secana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (1/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); (elliptic) 'bhavati/asti' understood; components: kṣāra (alkaline/salty) + ambu (water) + secana (sprinkling)

Speaker

Suta (narrating in the Purana-style frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It stresses the long duration and inevitability of karmic retribution: harmful actions ripen into prolonged suffering, depicted here through a vivid, bodily consequence.

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

Indirectly, it motivates turning toward dharma and Hari/Vishnu-bhakti as a corrective path—devotion and righteous conduct are presented across the Purana as protections against such karmic outcomes.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual/disciplinary insight (kalpa-oriented thinking) is implied: actions have precise results over time, encouraging adherence to prescribed dharma and expiatory practices rather than adharma.