Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

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

Devanagari script

कथयन्तश्च तत्कर्म नयन्ते नरकान्क्रमात् । अन्यं भजन्ते भूपाल पतिं त्यक्त्वा च याः स्त्रियः ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

kathayantaśca tatkarma nayante narakānkramāt | anyaṃ bhajante bhūpāla patiṃ tyaktvā ca yāḥ striyaḥ || 72 ||

Translation

Et ceux qui approuvent une telle conduite mènent (eux-mêmes et les autres) pas à pas vers les enfers. Ô roi, les femmes aussi qui abandonnent leur mari pour s'unir à un autre (encourent une telle chute).

Word by Word

• कथयन्तः: (those) narrating/telling
• कथयन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथयत् (कृदन्त; √कथय्)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

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

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘कर्म’

• कर्म: deed/act
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• नयन्ते: they lead (themselves/are led)
• नयन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नरकान्: hells
• नरकान्: Karma (कर्म/Object; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• क्रमात्: in sequence/gradually
• क्रमात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (5th) एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभाववत्; क्रियाविशेषण (in due order/gradually)

• अन्यम्: another (man)
• अन्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• भजन्ते: they resort to/consort with
• भजन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• भूपाल: O king
• भूपाल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having abandoned)

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

• याः: who (women)
• याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to याः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada; addressed to the king as 'bhūpāla')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Secondary Rasa: raudra (anger)

FAQs

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

It warns that not only wrongful acts, but also endorsing or narrating them approvingly, becomes a cause of spiritual decline—leading one gradually toward naraka; it also stresses the gravity of breaking marital vows.

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

By implication, bhakti requires śuddha-ācāra (pure conduct) and śuddha-vāk (pure speech); praising adharma and violating vows obstruct devotion by strengthening pāpa-saṃskāras and turning the mind away from dharmic living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga is taught directly; the practical takeaway is dharma-nīti regarding speech (vāk-śuddhi) and household ethics (gṛhastha-dharma), which support correct ritual and devotional life.