Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

संपूर्णस्य सुवर्णस्य स्तेयं कृत्वा मुनीश्वर । ब्रह्महत्याव्रतं कुर्याद्द्वादशाब्दं समाहितः ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

saṃpūrṇasya suvarṇasya steyaṃ kṛtvā munīśvara | brahmahatyāvrataṃ kuryāddvādaśābdaṃ samāhitaḥ || 50 ||

Translation

Ô grand sage, ayant dérobé une mesure entière d’or, qu’il entreprenne, l’esprit concentré, durant douze ans, le vœu d’expiation prescrit pour le péché de meurtre d’un brahmane.

Word by Word

• संपूर्णस्य: of complete/whole
• संपूर्णस्य: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संपूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘सुवर्णस्य’

• सुवर्णस्य: of gold
• सुवर्णस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• स्तेयम्: theft
• स्तेयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘कृत्वा’ इत्यस्य कर्म

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/ल्यबन्त), अव्ययभावः; ‘having done’

• मुनीश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनीश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) — ‘मुनीनां ईश्वरः’

• ब्रह्म-हत्या-व्रतम्: the brahma-hatyā vow (expiation)
• ब्रह्म-हत्या-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + हत्या (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः — ‘ब्रह्महत्यायाः व्रतम्’ (expiatory vow for brahma-hatyā)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• द्वादश-अब्दम्: for twelve years
• द्वादश-अब्दम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण/Time extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः — ‘द्वादश अब्दाः’ → ‘द्वादशाब्दम्’ (a period of twelve years)

• समाहितः: composed/collected (in mind)
• समाहितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + धा (धातु) → समाहित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (agent’s state)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: brahmahatyā-vrata (as expiation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It equates the theft of a full measure of gold with an extremely grave moral breach, prescribing a long, disciplined expiation to restore inner purity and social-religious order (dharma).

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes repentance, self-restraint, and purification as foundations that support sincere devotion; ethical cleansing is presented as necessary for steady spiritual practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual and dharma procedure) is implied through the specification of a formal vrata and its duration, reflecting the codified methods of prāyaścitta used in dharma-śāstra traditions.