Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

परस्वसूचकानां च नरकं श्रृणु दारुणम् । यावद्युगसहस्त्रं तु तप्तायः पिण्डभक्षणम् ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

parasvasūcakānāṃ ca narakaṃ śrṛṇu dāruṇam | yāvadyugasahastraṃ tu taptāyaḥ piṇḍabhakṣaṇam || 68 ||

Translation

Écoute maintenant la description de l'enfer redoutable destiné à ceux qui dénoncent les richesses d'autrui : pendant mille yugas, ils sont contraints de manger des morceaux de fer rouge.

Word by Word

• परस्वसूचकानाम्: of those who inform on others’ wealth (betrayers)
• परस्वसूचकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर-स्व-सूचक (प्रातिपदिक; पर=other + स्व=wealth + सूचक=informant)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासः—परस्वस्य सूचकः (genitive tatpuruṣa)

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

• नरकम्: hell
• नरकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• शृणु: hear
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दारुणम्: terrible
• दारुणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘नरकम्’

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण/temporal extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावार्थ)
• Form: परिमाण-अव्यय (extent/limit marker)

• युगसहस्रम्: a thousand yugas
• युगसहस्रम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण/temporal extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—युगानां सहस्रम् (genitive tatpuruṣa)

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

• तप्तायः: of heated iron
• तप्तायः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्त + अयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; समासः—तप्तम् अयः (heated iron)

• पिण्डभक्षणम्: eating of lumps (boluses)
• पिण्डभक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; implied as punishment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + भक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—पिण्डस्य भक्षणम् (genitive tatpuruṣa)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa (disgust)

FAQs

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

It warns that misusing speech to accuse or expose others regarding their wealth is a grave adharma that produces severe naraka-phala, urging inner restraint, truthfulness, and non-harm in social dealings.

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

Bhakti requires purity of conduct and speech; this verse shows that harming others through accusation contradicts devotional character (sadācāra), which supports steady remembrance and worship of the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway aligns with Dharmaśāstra-style ethics of vāṅ-niyama (discipline of speech): avoid false or harmful reporting and uphold truthful, non-injurious communication—an applied form of right conduct supporting ritual and spiritual life.