Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Hari-nāma Mahimā and Caraṇāmṛta: The Redemption of the Hunter Gulika

Uttaṅka Itihāsa

Devanagari script

अत्राप्युदाहरंतीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । पठतां श्रृण्वतां चैव सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

atrāpyudāharaṃtīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | paṭhatāṃ śrṛṇvatāṃ caiva sarvapāpapraṇāśanam || 18 ||

Translation

Ici encore, je vais rapporter une antique tradition (itihāsa). Pour ceux qui la lisent et pour ceux qui l’écoutent, elle devient l’anéantissement de tous les péchés.

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• उदाहरन्ति: they narrate; they cite
• उदाहरन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ-√हृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; Parasmaipada; they cite/relate

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular (qualifying इतिहासम्)

• इतिहासम्: ancient tale; history
• इतिहासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतिहास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पुरातनम्: ancient
• पुरातनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular (qualifying इतिहासम्)

• पठताम्: of those who recite/read
• पठताम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पठ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; शतृदन्त-सम्भव-रूप (वर्तमानकाले क्रियाविशेषणार्थे) — here used as present active participial genitive plural: पठताम् = 'of those who read'; Masculine/Neuter, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शृण्वताम्: of those who listen
• शृण्वताम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-प्रत्ययान्त (शतृ) participle used as genitive plural: शृण्वताम् = 'of those who listen'; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्: destroyer of all sins
• सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + पाप + प्रणाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: (सर्वाणि पापानि) + प्रणाशनम् (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः; अर्थतः 'all-sin-destroying'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular (qualifying इतिहासम्)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It declares that an ancient sacred narrative, when recited or heard with faith, functions as a purifier—removing pāpa and establishing the listener/reader in dharmic merit.

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

By emphasizing śravaṇa (hearing) and pāṭha (recitation), it aligns with bhakti practice where attentive listening to sacred accounts nurtures remembrance and devotion, leading to inner purification.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights the discipline of pāṭha (correct recitation) and śravaṇa (attentive listening), which connect to śikṣā (phonetics) and vyākaraṇa (proper forms) as supportive tools for preserving and transmitting sacred text.