Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 80

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

Devanagari script

चर्मवस्त्रामिषाणां च त्रिरात्रं स्यादभोजनम् । टिट्टिभं चक्रवाकं च हंसं कारंडवं तथा ॥ ८० ॥

Transliteration

carmavastrāmiṣāṇāṃ ca trirātraṃ syādabhojanam | ṭiṭṭibhaṃ cakravākaṃ ca haṃsaṃ kāraṃḍavaṃ tathā || 80 ||

Translation

Pour (l’usage ou la consommation impropre de) cuir, vêtements et viande, on doit observer un jeûne total durant trois nuits. De même, la même règle s’applique au sujet des oiseaux : ṭiṭṭibha, cakravāka, haṃsa et kāraṇḍava.

Word by Word

• चर्म-वस्त्र-अमिषाणाम्: of leather, cloth, and meat
• चर्म-वस्त्र-अमिषाणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अमिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्वः), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; ‘चर्म च वस्त्रं च अमिषं च’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (समुच्चयः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• त्रि-रात्रम्: for three nights
• त्रि-रात्रम्: कालाधिकरण (काल-अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (three nights)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: क्रिया (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अ-भोजनम्: abstention from eating (fasting)
• अ-भोजनम्: विधेय (विधेयम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/नकार-पूर्वकः (non-eating/fasting)

• टिट्टिभम्: a lapwing (bird)
• टिट्टिभम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: टिट्टिभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• चक्रवाकम्: a cakravāka bird (ruddy goose)
• चक्रवाकम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्रवाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (समुच्चयः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• हंसम्: a swan/goose
• हंसम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कारण्डवम्: a kāraṇḍava (duck)
• कारण्डवम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise; also
• तथा: समुच्चय/प्रकार (प्रकारः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/particle: ‘likewise/also’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on Dharma)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

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 frames fasting (abhojana) as a purificatory discipline (prāyaścitta) that restores inner and outer śuddhi after contact with or indulgence in impure/prohibited items, aligning conduct with Dharma.

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

By prescribing restraint and expiation, it supports sāttvika living—an ethical foundation that steadies the mind and senses, making devotional practices (Vishnu-bhakti, japa, pūjā) more effective and sincere.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa-based ritual jurisprudence (dharma/ācāra and prāyaścitta rules): specific faults are matched with a defined vow-like remedy (a three-night fast).