Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 65

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

मातृष्वसारं च पितृष्वसारमाचार्यभार्यां श्वशुरस्य पत्नीम् । पितृव्यभार्यामथ मातुलानीं पुत्रीं च गच्छेद्यदि काममुग्धः ॥ ६५ ॥

Transliteration

mātṛṣvasāraṃ ca pitṛṣvasāramācāryabhāryāṃ śvaśurasya patnīm | pitṛvyabhāryāmatha mātulānīṃ putrīṃ ca gacchedyadi kāmamugdhaḥ || 65 ||

Translation

もし男が、情欲に惑わされて、母の姉妹、父の姉妹、師の妻、義父の妻、父方の叔父の妻、母方の叔父の妻、あるいは自分の娘とさえ性的関係を持ったならば、（彼は重大な罪を犯したことになる）。

Word by Word

• mātṛ-ṣvasāram: mother’s sister
• mātṛ-ṣvasāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + ṣvasṛ/ṣvasāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘मातुः स्वसा’; कर्म

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

• pitṛ-ṣvasāram: father’s sister
• pitṛ-ṣvasāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + ṣvasṛ/ṣvasāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘पितुः स्वसा’; कर्म

• ācārya-bhāryām: teacher’s wife
• ācārya-bhāryām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācārya (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘आचार्यस्य भार्या’; कर्म

• śvaśurasya: of the father-in-law
• śvaśurasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvaśura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• patnīm: wife
• patnīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘श्वशुरस्य’ इति षष्ठीसम्बन्धेन विशिष्टा; कर्म

• pitṛvya-bhāryām: paternal uncle’s wife
• pitṛvya-bhāryām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛvya (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘पितृव्यस्य भार्या’ (paternal uncle’s wife); कर्म

• atha: and then/also
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/समुच्चय (particle ‘then/also’)

• mātulānīm: maternal uncle’s wife
• mātulānīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātulānī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म; (maternal uncle’s wife)

• putrīm: daughter
• putrīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

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

• gacchet: should go to/approach
• gacchet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘should go/approach’

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्त (conditional ‘if’)

• kāma-mugdhaḥ: one deluded by lust
• kāma-mugdhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + mugdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय-सदृश) ‘कामेन मुग्धः’ (deluded by desire); कर्तृविशेषण

Speaker

Narada (teaching dharma in dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It warns that lust (kāma) can eclipse discernment and drive one into acts condemned by dharma, emphasizing purity of conduct and protection of family–guru relationships as foundations for spiritual progress.

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

Bhakti is sustained by inner and outer purity; this verse highlights that uncontrolled desire disrupts sāttvika living, making the mind unfit for steady remembrance of Bhagavān and disciplined devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects dharma-śāstric application of normative conduct (sadācāra) and relational categories; while not a technical Vedāṅga lesson, it aligns with śāstric reasoning used in defining prohibitions and ethical boundaries.