Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

स्वर्णस्तेय सुरापानगुरुतल्पायुतानि च । कोटिकोटिसहस्राणि ह्युपपापानि यानि वै ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

svarṇasteya surāpānagurutalpāyutāni ca | koṭikoṭisahasrāṇi hyupapāpāni yāni vai || 6 ||

Translation

Il existe d’innombrables péchés secondaires (upapāpa)—par crores et par milliers—ainsi que des fautes graves telles que voler l’or, boire des enivrants et souiller le lit du maître (adultère avec l’épouse du guru).

Word by Word

• svarṇa-steyam: theft of gold
• svarṇa-steyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + steya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘स्वर्णस्य स्तेयम्’)

• surā-pāna-guru-talpāyutāni: tens of thousands of (sins like) drinking liquor and violating the teacher’s bed
• surā-pāna-guru-talpāyutāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: surā (प्रातिपदिक) + pāna (प्रातिपदिक) + guru (प्रातिपदिक) + talpa (प्रातिपदिक) + ayuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समासः; ‘सुरापान’ (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष), ‘गुरुतल्प’ (तत्पुरुष), ‘अयुत’ = दशसहस्र-परिमाणम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• koṭi-koṭi-sahasrāṇi: thousands of crores of crores
• koṭi-koṭi-sahasrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: koṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + koṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; परिमाणवाचक-तत्पुरुषः (‘कोटीनां कोटयः सहस्राणि’)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/हेतु-भावः

• upapāpāni: secondary/minor sins
• upapāpāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upa-pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-प्रातिपदिक (‘उप’ + ‘पाप’)

• yāni: which
• yāni: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन

• vai: indeed/truly
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It underscores the vast range of karmic faults—both major and subsidiary—and sets the stage for prāyaścitta (expiation) teachings that purify the practitioner and restore dharmic order.

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

By highlighting the reality of sin and impurity, the text prepares the devotee for disciplined purification; in Narada Purana’s broader framework, such cleansing supports steadiness in Vishnu-bhakti and sacred practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Dharma-śāstric classification of offenses (mahāpātaka vs. upapāpa) and the applied science of prāyaścitta—rule-based remedial rites aligned with śāstra and ritual procedure.