Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

दशनिष्कांतपर्यंतमूर्द्धूं निष्कचतुष्टयात् । हत्वा च रजतं विद्वान्कुर्याच्चांद्रायणं मुने ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

daśaniṣkāṃtaparyaṃtamūrddhūṃ niṣkacatuṣṭayāt | hatvā ca rajataṃ vidvānkuryāccāṃdrāyaṇaṃ mune || 52 ||

Translation

ಓ ಮುನೇ! ಪಂಡಿತನು ಬೆಳ್ಳಿಯನ್ನು ಕದ್ದರೆ—ನಾಲ್ಕು ನಿಷ್ಕಗಳ ಮೌಲ್ಯವರೆಗೆ, ಮತ್ತು ಅದಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿ ಹತ್ತು ನಿಷ್ಕಗಳವರೆಗೆ—ಪ್ರಾಯಶ್ಚಿತ್ತವಾಗಿ ಚಾಂದ್ರಾಯಣ ವ್ರತವನ್ನು ಆಚರಿಸಬೇಕು.

Word by Word

• दश-निष्क-अन्त-पर्यन्तम्: up to the limit of ten niṣkas
• दश-निष्क-अन्त-पर्यन्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + निष्क (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः — ‘दश निष्काः अन्तः यस्य’/‘दश-निष्क-अन्तः पर्यन्तः’ = up to the limit of ten niṣkas; विशेषणम् (implied measure)

• ऊर्ध्वम्: above/more than
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — ‘above/more than’

• निष्क-चतुष्टयात्: from (the amount of) four niṣkas (and upward)
• निष्क-चतुष्टयात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्क (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः — ‘निष्कानां चतुष्टयम्’ (a set of four niṣkas)

• हत्वा: having done (the act)/having taken away
• हत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/ल्यबन्त), अव्ययभावः; ‘having killed/committed (the act)’ (idiomatically: having stolen/robbed in context)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• रजतम्: silver
• रजतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• विद्वान्: a learned man
• विद्वान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद् (धातु) → विद्वस् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• चांद्रायणम्: the Cāndrāyaṇa penance
• चांद्रायणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चांद्रायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching prāyaścitta norms to the sages in dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Cāndrāyaṇa

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It frames theft (especially of valuable metals like silver) as a dharmic transgression that must be purified through prāyaścitta, emphasizing inner restitution through regulated self-discipline (Cāndrāyaṇa).

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports devotional life by insisting on ethical purity; the Cāndrāyaṇa vow functions as a corrective discipline that restores eligibility for worship and sacred practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through the prescription of a specific vrata—Cāndrāyaṇa—whose practice follows lunar regulation and formal penance rules used in Dharma/Smṛti traditions.