Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

समस्तपापतुल्यानि महानरकदानि च । ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानां कथंचिन्निष्कृतिर्भवेत् ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

samastapāpatulyāni mahānarakadāni ca | brahmahatyādipāpānāṃ kathaṃcinniṣkṛtirbhavet || 47 ||

Translation

Ces (péchés) sont égaux à tous les péchés et conduisent aux grands enfers ; même pour des péchés tels que le brahma-hatyā (le meurtre d'un brāhmaṇa), un moyen d'expiation peut, d'une certaine manière, être possible.

Word by Word

• samasta-pāpa-tulyāni: equal to all sins
• samasta-pāpa-tulyāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of (implied) pāpāni
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samasta (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + tulya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural; तत्पुरुषः—“samastaiḥ pāpaiḥ tulyāni” (equal to all sins)

• mahā-naraka-dāni: giving great hell
• mahā-naraka-dāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of (implied) pāpāni
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + naraka (प्रातिपदिक) + da (दा धातु) + lyuṭ/ani (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—“mahān narakaḥ dīyate yaiḥ” (those which give great hell)

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

• brahma-hatyā-ādi-pāpānām: of sins such as brahmin-slaying
• brahma-hatyā-ādi-pāpānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — genitive with niṣkṛtiḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmahatyā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; तत्पुरुषः—“brahmahatyādyāni pāpāni” (sins such as brahmin-slaying)

• kathaṃcit: somehow
• kathaṃcit: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — adverbial modifier
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kathaṃcit (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अनिश्चित/कथंचित्)

• niṣkṛtiḥ: expiation
• niṣkṛtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣkṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; subject of bhavet

• bhavet: may be/should be possible
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Optative/Potential (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It underscores the Purāṇic principle that even the gravest karmic downfalls—those leading to “great hells”—are not beyond the reach of purification when niṣkṛti (atonement) is undertaken according to dharma.

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

By affirming the possibility of release even from mahā-pātakas, the verse supports the broader Purāṇic outlook that sincere turning toward the Divine (often expressed through vrata, japa, and worship) can transform one’s karmic trajectory—preparing the mind for Vishnu-bhakti and liberation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to the applied dharma-śāstric framework of prayāścitta (expiation rules) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it implies the need for correct ritual procedure and recitation (supported by Śikṣā and Vyākaraṇa) when performing sanctioned acts of atonement.