Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

विश्वस्तागमनं चैव गुरुतल्पसमं स्मृतम् । अकाले कर्मकरणं पुत्रीगमनमेव च ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

viśvastāgamanaṃ caiva gurutalpasamaṃ smṛtam | akāle karmakaraṇaṃ putrīgamanameva ca || 43 ||

Translation

Les rapports sexuels avec une femme de confiance (protégée) sont déclarés égaux au péché de violer le lit du maître (Guru). Il en va de même pour l'accomplissement d'actes sexuels à des moments inappropriés et pour les rapports avec sa propre fille.

Word by Word

• viśvasta-āgamanaṃ: approaching one who trusts (betrayal of trust)
• viśvasta-āgamanaṃ: Karta (कर्ता) / Uddeśya (उद्देश्य) — item being classified
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvasta (प्रातिपदिक) + āgamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“viśvastasya āgamanam” (coming to/approaching one who trusts)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय)

• gurutalpa-samaṃ: equal to (the sin of) violating the guru’s bed
• gurutalpa-samaṃ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of viśvasta-āgamanaṃ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guru-talpa (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); उपमान-तत्पुरुषः—“gurutalpena samam” (equal to violation of the teacher’s bed)

• smṛtam: is declared/considered
• smṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया) — predicate (passive sense)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (स्मृ धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; used predicatively: “is declared/considered”

• a-kāle: at an improper time
• a-kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) with privative a-
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); “at an improper time”

• karma-karaṇaṃ: performing a rite/act
• karma-karaṇaṃ: Karta (कर्ता) / Uddeśya (उद्देश्य) — item being classified
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + karaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“karmasya karaṇam” (doing of a rite/act)

• putrī-gamanaṃ: going to one’s daughter (incest)
• putrī-gamanaṃ: Karta (कर्ता) / Uddeśya (उद्देश्य) — item being classified
• Type: Noun
• Root: putrī (प्रातिपदिक) + gamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“putryāḥ gamanam” (going to one’s daughter; incest)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारणार्थक अव्यय)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue teaching Narada on Dharma and prohibitions)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It classifies certain betrayals and incestuous/untimely sexual acts as extremely grave, warning that such conduct destroys dharma, purity, and the trust that supports spiritual life.

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

Bhakti in the Narada Purana is grounded in moral restraint; violating trust and committing forbidden unions obstructs purity of mind, making steady devotion and remembrance of Vishnu difficult.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects dharma-śāstric timing and rule-based discipline (nishiddha-karma avoidance), where “akāla” implies that proper time/fitness of acts is a key practical guideline in ritual-ethical life.