Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

सुरापानसमं पापं प्रवक्ष्यामि समासतः । गणान्नभोजनं चैव गणिकानां निषेवणम् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

surāpānasamaṃ pāpaṃ pravakṣyāmi samāsataḥ | gaṇānnabhojanaṃ caiva gaṇikānāṃ niṣevaṇam || 30 ||

Translation

Je dirai brièvement les fautes égales à celle de boire des enivrants : manger la nourriture provenant de groupes impurs, et fréquenter les courtisanes.

Word by Word

• सुरापानसमम्: equal to drinking liquor
• सुरापानसमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरापान (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः: सुरापानेन समम् (equal to liquor-drinking)

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; प्रवक्ष्यामि इति क्रियायाः कर्म

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I will declare
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• समासतः: briefly
• समासतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समासतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb): ‘briefly/in summary’

• गणान्नभोजनम्: eating the food of a gaṇa (low company)
• गणान्नभोजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः: गणस्य अन्नम् (food of a ‘gaṇa’/low group) तस्य भोजनम् (eating)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphasis)

• गणिकानाम्: of courtesans
• गणिकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• निषेवणम्: association/indulgence (with them)
• निषेवणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि-√सेव् (धातु) + अन (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भाववाचक कृदन्त/कृदन्तनिष्पन्न-नाम: ‘association/indulgence’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It equates certain forms of impure conduct—especially impure food-intake and immoral association—with the grave sin of surā-pāna, emphasizing that purity (śauca) and right association (saṅga) directly shape one’s spiritual state.

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

Bhakti is protected by disciplined living: avoiding corrupting company and impure habits preserves sattva, steadies the mind, and supports sincere worship and remembrance; thus the verse outlines practical guardrails that sustain devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It primarily reflects Dharma-śāstric ācāra (codes of conduct) tied to śauca and āhāra-niyama (food discipline); while not a technical Vedāṅga lesson, it aligns with ritual purity required for Vedic rites.