Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 134

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

Devanagari script

प्रायश्चित्तेषु चीर्णेषु पापराशिः प्रणश्यति । प्रायश्चित्तानि कार्याणि समीपे कमलापतेः ॥ १३४ ॥

Transliteration

prāyaścitteṣu cīrṇeṣu pāparāśiḥ praṇaśyati | prāyaścittāni kāryāṇi samīpe kamalāpateḥ || 134 ||

Translation

Lorsque les prāyaścittas (rites d’expiation) sont accomplis comme il se doit, l’amas des péchés accumulés est détruit. Aussi faut-il entreprendre ces expiations en présence—près du Seigneur de Lakṣmī, Viṣṇu (Kamalāpati).

Word by Word

• prāyaścitteṣu: in/when expiations
• prāyaścitteṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāyaścitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• cīrṇeṣu: having been performed
• cīrṇeṣu: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘performed/undertaken’ (agreeing with prāyaścitteṣu)

• pāpa-rāśiḥ: the mass of sins
• pāpa-rāśiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + rāśi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘heap/mass of sin’)

• praṇaśyati: perishes, is destroyed
• praṇaśyati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+naś (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• prāyaścittāni: expiations
• prāyaścittāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāyaścitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st) (also could function as द्वितीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• kāryāṇi: to be done, should be performed
• kāryāṇi: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (Plural); विधेय-विशेषण (predicative: ‘to be done’)

• samīpe: near, in the presence
• samīpe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• kamalā-pateḥ: of the Lord of Lakshmi (Vishnu)
• kamalā-pateḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamalā (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘lord of Kamalā/Śrī’)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-upadeśa context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Laksmi

FAQs

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

It teaches that prāyaścitta (expiation) has true purifying power when sincerely completed, and that its highest efficacy is linked to devotion and proximity to Viṣṇu, the refuge of purity.

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

By directing expiation to be done near Kamalāpati (Viṣṇu), it frames ritual purification as an act anchored in bhakti—turning repentance into surrender at the Lord’s feet rather than mere formal penance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) in the application of prāyaścitta—emphasizing correct performance and proper sacred context (doing it in Viṣṇu’s presence/near His shrine or sanctified space).