Shloka 61

The Liberation of the Lizard

Godhā-vimukti

Devanagari script

प्रयातु कृतपापापिस्वर्गतिं नगरी मम । अयोध्यापातकं गृह्य गंताहं नरकं ध्रुवम् ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

prayātu kṛtapāpāpisvargatiṃ nagarī mama | ayodhyāpātakaṃ gṛhya gaṃtāhaṃ narakaṃ dhruvam || 61 ||

Translation

ನನ್ನ ನಗರವು ಪಾಪಮಾಡಿದ್ದರೂ ಸ್ವರ್ಗಗತಿಯನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯಲಿ. ಅಯೋಧ್ಯೆಯ ಪಾತಕವನ್ನು ನಾನು ನನ್ನ ಮೇಲೆ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡು ನಿಶ್ಚಯವಾಗಿ ನರಕಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗುವೆನು।

Word by Word

• prayātu: let (her/it) go forth
• prayātu: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√yā (या, धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Sing.); परस्मैपद

• kṛta-pāpa-api-svargatim: even the heaven-going (state) of one who has committed sin
• kṛta-pāpa-api-svargatim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta (कृ, धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + api (अव्यय) + svargati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Sing.); svargatim = स्वर्ग-गतिम् (to heaven-going/state); पूर्वपद ‘कृतपाप’ (one who has committed sin) विशेषणवत्; api = ‘even’

• nagarī: the city
• nagarī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nagarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (Sing.)

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Sing.); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• ayodhyā-pātakam: the sin (connected with) Ayodhyā
• ayodhyā-pātakam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक) + pātaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन (Sing.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (Ayodhyāyāḥ pātakam)

• gṛhya: having taken (upon oneself)
• gṛhya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (ग्रह्, धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावः (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having taken/assuming’

• gantā: (I am) one who will go / will go
• gantā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्, धातु)
• Form: लृट्-अर्थे तृच्-प्रत्यय (Agent noun/future sense), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (Sing.), पुल्लिङ्ग (m.)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (Sing.); सर्वनाम

• narakam: to hell
• narakam: Karma (कर्म/Object/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन (Sing.)

• dhruvam: certainly
• dhruvam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोगः (indeclinable adverbial use), निश्चयार्थे (certainly)

Speaker

A self-sacrificing protector/guardian figure speaking within the Ayodhya-mahātmya narrative (as relayed in Narada Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhya
• Svarga
• Naraka

FAQs

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

It highlights extreme dharmic responsibility: a protector figure is willing to bear collective fault so the sacred community (the city) may attain auspicious destiny, emphasizing compassion and the gravity of pātaka.

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

Though not explicitly naming Viṣṇu-bhakti, it reflects bhakti’s ethic of self-offering and protection of devotees and holy places—placing others’ spiritual welfare above one’s own comfort.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly conveys dharma-śāstra logic (pātaka, naraka/svarga outcomes) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; it implicitly aligns with ritual-ethics and expiation (prāyaścitta) principles used in Smṛti-based practice.