Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 89

Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy

Devanagari script

त्यक्तपञ्चमहायज्ञा लालाभक्षं व्रजन्ति हि । उपासनापरित्यागी रौरवं नरकं व्रजेत् ॥ ८९ ॥

Transliteration

tyaktapañcamahāyajñā lālābhakṣaṃ vrajanti hi | upāsanāparityāgī rauravaṃ narakaṃ vrajet || 89 ||

Translation

जो पंचमहायज्ञों को त्याग देते हैं, वे लाला (थूक) भक्षण की दशा को प्राप्त होते हैं। और जो उपासना का परित्याग करता है, वह रौरव नरक में जाता है॥

Word by Word

• त्यक्त-पञ्च-महा-यज्ञाः: having abandoned the five great sacrifices
• त्यक्त-पञ्च-महा-यज्ञाः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यक्त (√त्यज् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय) + पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + महा (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समास: पञ्चमहायज्ञाः (कर्मधारय: “five great sacrifices”); त्यक्त- (past passive participle) qualifying subject; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• लाला-भक्षम्: saliva/filth-eating (state/food)
• लाला-भक्षम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाला (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (“eating of saliva/filth”); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्रजन्ति: go/attain
• व्रजन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

• उपासनā-परित्यागी: one who gives up worship
• उपासनā-परित्यागी: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपासनā (प्रातिपदिक) + परित्यागिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (“one who abandons worship”); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रौरवम्: Raurava (hell)
• रौरवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नरकम्: hell
• नरकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रौरवम् इति विशेषणवत्/अप्पोज़िशन

• व्रजेत्: would go/should go
• व्रजेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Raurava

FAQs

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

It warns that neglecting nitya-karma—especially the pañca-mahā-yajñas and regular upāsanā—causes severe spiritual and karmic downfall, described through degraded rebirth/condition and the hell named Raurava.

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

By stating that abandoning upāsanā leads to Raurava, the verse underscores that steady worship and remembrance are not optional add-ons but core supports of dharma that protect one’s spiritual trajectory.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes ritual discipline (kalpa-based nitya duties) through the pañca-mahā-yajñas—daily offerings and obligations that structure household life and sustain dharma.