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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 109

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

आशया व्यथते चैव मोक्षस्त्वत्यंतदुर्लभः । भक्त्या यजति यो विष्णुं महापातकवानपि ॥ १०९ ॥

āśayā vyathate caiva mokṣastvatyaṃtadurlabhaḥ | bhaktyā yajati yo viṣṇuṃ mahāpātakavānapi || 109 ||

L’être est tourmenté par le désir, et la délivrance est d’une extrême difficulté; pourtant, même chargé de grands péchés, celui qui adore Viṣṇu avec bhakti obtient un mérite salutaire.

आशयाby/through hope (expectation)
आशया:
Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootआशा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन — feminine, instrumental singular
व्यथतेis pained/suffers
व्यथते:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootव्यथ् (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — present indicative, 3rd person singular, middle
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
एवindeed/only
एव:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formनिश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)
मोक्षःliberation
मोक्षः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — masculine, nominative singular
तुbut
तु:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formविरोध/विशेषण-अव्यय (adversative particle)
अत्यन्त-दुर्लभःextremely difficult to obtain
अत्यन्त-दुर्लभः:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअत्यन्त (अव्यय) + दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (मोक्षस्य) — masculine, nominative singular; adjective qualifying ‘mokṣaḥ’
भक्त्याwith devotion
भक्त्या:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootभक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — feminine, instrumental singular
यजतिworships/sacrifices to
यजति:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootयज् (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — present indicative, 3rd person singular, active
यःwho
यः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — masculine, nominative singular; relative pronoun
विष्णुम्Vishnu
विष्णुम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootविष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — masculine, accusative singular
महापातकवान्even one who has great sins
महापातकवान्:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootमहापातक (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (यः) — masculine, nominative singular; ‘possessing great sins’
अपिeven/also
अपि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formसम्भावना/समुच्चय-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

Narada (teaching in the Narada Purana dialogue tradition; devotional instruction aligned with Narada’s bhakti emphasis)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: karuna

V
Vishnu

FAQs

It contrasts the difficulty of mokṣa with the transformative power of Viṣṇu-bhakti, implying that devotion can purify even severe sinfulness and turn the aspirant toward liberation.

Bhakti is presented as an effective, grace-oriented means: worship of Viṣṇu done with devotion is emphasized over one’s prior moral burden, highlighting devotion as a purifier and liberator.

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is sādhana-focused—regular devotional worship (yajana/arcana) of Viṣṇu as a discipline for inner purification.