Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

प्रायश्चित्तं तु रत्नानां स्तेये राजतवत्स्मृतम् । गुरुतल्पगतानां च प्रायश्चित्तमुदीर्यते ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

prāyaścittaṃ tu ratnānāṃ steye rājatavatsmṛtam | gurutalpagatānāṃ ca prāyaścittamudīryate || 56 ||

Translation

Pour le vol de pierres précieuses, l'expiation est déclarée être la même que celle prescrite pour le vol d'argent. L'expiation pour la violation du lit du gourou est également énoncée.

Word by Word

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative/Accusative singular

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय (particle)

• रत्नानाम्: of jewels
• रत्नानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• स्तेये: in theft
• स्तेये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular; ‘in theft’

• राजत-वत्: as (in the case of) silver
• राजत-वत्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: राजत (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान (comparative particle) ‘like/as’

• स्मृतम्: is stated
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is stated/remembered (in tradition)’

• गुरुतल्प-गतानाम्: of those guilty of violating the guru’s bed
• गुरुतल्प-गतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरुतल्प + गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; Genitive plural; (गुरुतल्पं गताः) ‘of those who have gone to the guru’s bed’ (i.e., committed that offense)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• उदीर्यते: is proclaimed
• उदीर्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + ईर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive) ‘is declared’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Dharma/Prāyaścitta context, traditionally within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Guru

FAQs

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

It frames prāyaścitta as a Dharma tool to restore moral and ritual order: even serious transgressions are addressed through codified penances, emphasizing accountability and purification.

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

Indirectly: by prescribing purification after wrongdoing, it supports a life fit for sādhana and worship—ethical conduct and rectification are treated as foundations for sustained devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Dharma-śāstra/Smṛti-based ritual jurisprudence: the verse applies rule-by-analogy (ratna theft treated like silver theft) and categorizes grave offenses (mahāpātaka such as gurutalpa) with corresponding penances.