Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

ततो विष्ठाकृतमिश्चैव ततो व्याघ्रस्त्रिजन्मसु । तदंते नरकं याति युगानामेकविंशतिम् ॥ ६३ ॥

Transliteration

tato viṣṭhākṛtamiścaiva tato vyāghrastrijanmasu | tadaṃte narakaṃ yāti yugānāmekaviṃśatim || 63 ||

Translation

Alors il devient une créature mangeuse d’excréments ; puis, durant trois naissances, il renaît tigre. À l’issue de cela, il tombe en enfer pendant vingt et un yuga.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• viṣṭhā-kṛta-miśca: a mixed being made of excrement (i.e., a filthy creature)
• viṣṭhā-kṛta-miśca: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त) + miśca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुष (determinative)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle/emphasis (निपात)

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vyāghraḥ: a tiger
• vyāghraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tri-janmasu: in three births
• tri-janmasu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—द्विगु (numerical compound)

• tad-ante: at the end of that
• tad-ante: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) used adverbially; sense: 'at its end/thereafter'

• narakam: hell
• narakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• yāti: goes
• yāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (या धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्, Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• yugānām: of ages
• yugānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• eka-viṃśatim: twenty-one
• eka-viṃśatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + viṃśati (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); numeral used with implied 'saṅkhyām/saṅkhyā' or qualifying duration; समासः—द्विगु

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Naraka

FAQs

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

It warns that sustained pāpa (sinful conduct) can ripen into degrading rebirths and prolonged naraka, emphasizing accountability under karma and the urgency of dharmic correction.

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

By showing the terror of karmic downfall, it indirectly motivates turning toward sattvic living and Viṣṇu-bhakti as a protective, purifying orientation that counters sinful tendencies and their results.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline (dharma) and careful avoidance of actions that generate heavy pāpa leading to naraka and painful rebirths.