Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

बौद्धालयं विशेद्यस्तु महापद्यपि वैद्विजः । नतस्यनिष्कृतिर्दृष्टाप्रायश्चितशतैरपि ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

bauddhālayaṃ viśedyastu mahāpadyapi vaidvijaḥ | natasyaniṣkṛtirdṛṣṭāprāyaścitaśatairapi || 51 ||

Translation

Même si un homme deux-fois-né entre dans un sanctuaire bouddhique en un temps de grande calamité, aucune expiation n’est prescrite pour lui, fût-ce par des centaines d’actes de pénitence.

Word by Word

• बौद्ध-आलयम्: a Buddhist shrine
• बौद्ध-आलयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बौद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular); तत्पुरुष-समासः (Buddhist temple/abode)

• विशेत्: should enter
• विशेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular, Optative, Parasmaipada)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular; relative pronoun)

• तु: indeed / but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषण-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• महा-आपदि: in great distress
• महा-आपदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + आपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Locative, Singular); कर्मधारय-समासः (in great calamity)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चय-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• वै-द्विजः: a Brahmin indeed
• वै-द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); वै (निपात) + द्विजः

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negative particle)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive, Singular; pronoun)

• निष्कृतिः: expiation
• निष्कृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)

• दृष्टा: is seen / is found
• दृष्टा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक-कर्तरि कृदन्त (past passive participle used predicatively), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nom., Sing.)

• प्रायश्चित्त-शतैः: by hundreds of penances
• प्रायश्चित्त-शतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Plural); तत्पुरुष-समासः (by hundreds of expiations)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चय-अव्यय (particle: even)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Dvija

FAQs

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

It stresses strict dharmic boundaries for a dvija: certain actions are portrayed as so spiritually compromising that ordinary prāyaścitta is declared ineffective, urging vigilance in conduct even during hardship.

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

Indirectly, it frames devotion as requiring steadfast adherence to one’s prescribed dharma; unwavering loyalty to one’s sacred commitments is treated as integral to a life oriented toward Viṣṇu-bhakti and spiritual integrity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Dharmaśāstra-style application of ritual law—how prāyaścitta is assigned (or denied) for specific acts—rather than a technical lesson in Śikṣā/Vyākaraṇa/Jyotiṣa.