Shloka 16

Tīrtha-vidhi (Procedure for Holy Places) — Prayāgarāja-māhātmya

Devanagari script

कृतपापो विशुध्येत्तु किं पुनः शुद्धकर्मकृत् । अश्रद्दधानः पापार्तो नास्तिकोऽच्छिन्नसंशयः ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

kṛtapāpo viśudhyettu kiṃ punaḥ śuddhakarmakṛt | aśraddadhānaḥ pāpārto nāstiko'cchinnasaṃśayaḥ || 16 ||

Translation

Même celui qui a commis des fautes peut être purifié ; combien plus celui qui accomplit des actes purs ! Mais celui qui est sans foi, tourmenté par le péché, nāstika (négateur) et dont les doutes ne sont pas tranchés, n’obtient pas cette purification.

Word by Word

• कृत-पापः: one who has committed sin
• कृत-पापः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: कृतं पापं येन/यस्य; क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle)

• विशुध्येत्: should become purified
• विशुध्येत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शुध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; वि उपसर्ग + √शुध्

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: indeed)

• किम्: what (then)
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम (interrogative)

• पुनः: moreover
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/अधिकरणार्थक (adverb: again, moreover)

• शुद्ध-कर्म-कृत्: one who performs pure actions
• शुद्ध-कर्म-कृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: शुद्धं कर्म करोति इति (doer of pure deeds)

• अश्रद्दधानः: faithless
• अश्रद्दधानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्रद्दधान (कृदन्त; √धा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्): श्रद्धां न दधाति

• पाप-आर्तः: afflicted by sin
• पाप-आर्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: पापेन आर्तः (afflicted by sin)

• नास्तिकः: atheist/denier
• नास्तिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नास्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अच्छिन्न-संशयः: one whose doubts are not dispelled
• अच्छिन्न-संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्छिन्न (कृदन्त; √छिद् धातु) + संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: अच्छिन्नः संशयः यस्य (whose doubt is uncut); क्त-प्रत्यय √छिद् with नञ्-भाव (a- as privative)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in an instructive dialogue style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

The verse asserts that purification is possible even for sinners, and even more so for the virtuous; however, spiritual results depend on inner qualification—faith (śraddhā) and the removal of doubt—without which external acts do not mature into true purification.

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

Bhakti requires śraddhā and a heart free from corrosive doubt; the verse implies that faithless denial (nāstikya) blocks the transformative power of devotional or dharmic practice, whereas sincere trust and steadiness allow grace and purification to manifest.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The emphasis is not on a specific Vedāṅga technique but on adhikāra (eligibility): correct inner disposition—śraddhā and doubt-resolution—must accompany karma (ritual/ethical action), aligning practice with dharmic intent for effective results.