Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

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

Uttaṅka Itihāsa

Devanagari script

पूर्वजन्मार्जितैः पापैर्लुब्धकत्वमवाप्तवान् । अत्रापि पापजालानि कृत्वा कां गतिमाप्नुयाम् ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

pūrvajanmārjitaiḥ pāpairlubdhakatvamavāptavān | atrāpi pāpajālāni kṛtvā kāṃ gatimāpnuyām || 56 ||

Translation

Par les péchés amassés dans une naissance antérieure, j’ai obtenu la condition de chasseur ; et même ici, après avoir tissé un réseau de fautes, quel destin atteindrai-je ?

Word by Word

• pūrva-janma-arjitaiḥ: by (sins) acquired in a former birth
• pūrva-janma-arjitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument-cause)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + janman (प्रातिपदिक) + arjita (कृदन्त, √arj)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘pūrvasmin janmani arjitaiḥ’; Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; qualifying ‘pāpaiḥ’

• pāpaiḥ: by sins
• pāpaiḥ: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• lubdhakatvam: the state of being a hunter
• lubdhakatvam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lubdhaka (प्रातिपदिक) + -tva (त्व प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; abstract noun ‘hunterhood’

• avāptavān: attained; obtained
• avāptavān: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava+√āp (आप् धातु) → avāpta (कृदन्त, क्त) + -vat (वत्)
• Form: Periphrastic perfect-like past (क्तवत्-प्रयोग), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘having obtained/attained’

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of place

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle ‘also/even’

• pāpa-jālāni: nets/collections of sins
• pāpa-jālāni: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘pāpānāṃ jālāni’; Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकालिक क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), “having done/committed”

• kām: which? what kind of?
• kām: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun, Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying ‘gatim’

• gatim: state; destiny; course
• gatim: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āpnuyām: might I attain?
• āpnuyām: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: Optative/benedictive sense (विधिलिङ्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

Speaker

A remorseful sinner (the hunter) speaking in self-reflection within the Narada–Sanatkumāra dialogue frame

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It captures karmic self-awareness: past-life pāpa can shape one’s birth and livelihood, and continuing wrongdoing deepens bondage—prompting the urgent turn toward dharma, repentance, and purification.

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

Though Bhakti is not named in the verse, the fear of a terrible gati and the recognition of pāpa are classic triggers for śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge). In the Narada Purana’s teaching atmosphere, such remorse is meant to lead one toward Hari/Vishnu-bhakti and reform.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily teaches karma-ethics rather than a Vedāṅga technicality; practically, it supports dharma-śāstra style discernment—recognizing pāpa, cultivating remorse, and undertaking appropriate prāyaścitta (expiatory discipline) and sādhana.