Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma

Devanagari script

अयोभारद्वयं केचिन्नासाग्रेण तथापरे । कर्णाभ्यां च तथा केचिद्वहंतो यांति पापिनः ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

ayobhāradvayaṃ kecinnāsāgreṇa tathāpare | karṇābhyāṃ ca tathā kecidvahaṃto yāṃti pāpinaḥ || 14 ||

Translation

Certains pécheurs avancent en portant une paire de charges de fer par le bout du nez ; d'autres les portent de la même manière. Et certains, les portant par les deux oreilles, continuent leur chemin.

Word by Word

• अयोभारद्वयम्: a double iron burden
• अयोभारद्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयस् (प्रातिपदिक) + भार (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (अयसः भारः = iron-burden; द्वयम् = pair/two); (neuter, accusative singular)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (pronoun, masculine nominative plural)

• नासाग्रेण: by the tip of the nose
• नासाग्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासाग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नासायाः अग्रेण = 'by the tip of the nose'); (neuter, instrumental singular)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/also')

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; (masculine, nominative plural: 'others')

• कर्णाभ्याम्: by/with the two ears
• कर्णाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), द्विवचन; (masculine, instrumental dual)

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

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (pronoun, masculine nominative plural)

• वहन्तः: carrying
• वहन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपद; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (present active participle, masculine nominative plural)

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; (present indicative, 3rd person plural, active)

• पापिनः: sinners
• पापिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (masculine, nominative plural)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It emphasizes karma-phala: harmful actions lead to painful consequences, urging ethical restraint and dharmic living to avoid such suffering.

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

By highlighting the terror of papa and its results, it indirectly motivates turning toward Vishnu-bhakti and righteous conduct as protective, purifying disciplines.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught in this verse; it functions as a dharma-oriented warning about moral causality and its results.