Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

महापातकिनस्तेषु प्रत्येकं युगवासिनः । तदन्ते पृथिवीमेत्य सप्तजन्मसु गर्दभाः ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

mahāpātakinasteṣu pratyekaṃ yugavāsinaḥ | tadante pṛthivīmetya saptajanmasu gardabhāḥ || 56 ||

Translation

അവരിൽ മഹാപാതകികൾ ഓരോരുത്തരും അവിടെ ഓരോ യുഗകാലം വസിക്കും; അതിന്റെ അവസാനം ഭൂമിയിലേക്കു വന്ന് ഏഴ് ജന്മം കഴുതകളായി ജനിക്കും.

Word by Word

• महापातकिनः: great sinners
• महापातकिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापातकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समास: महा + पातकिन् (great sinner)

• तेषु: among them/in those (hells)
• तेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th case/locative), बहुवचन

• प्रत्येकम्: each (one)
• प्रत्येकम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रत्येक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — "each, individually"

• युगवासिनः: dwellers for an age (yuga)
• युगवासिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युगवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: युग + वासिन् (dweller)

• तदन्ते: at its end
• तदन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; सप्तमी-एकवचन-आधारित अव्यय — "at the end of that"

• पृथिवीम्: to the earth
• पृथिवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एत्य: having come
• एत्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) — "having gone/come"

• सप्तजन्मसु: in seven births
• सप्तजन्मसु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास: सप्त (seven) + जन्म (birth)

• गर्दभाः: donkeys
• गर्दभाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्दभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the moral gravity of mahāpātakas: prolonged suffering (yuga-long) is followed by degrading rebirth, underscoring karma’s inevitability and the need for dharmic living and expiation.

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

Indirectly, it motivates turning away from grave sin and toward purification; in the Narada Purana’s broader teaching, sincere devotion to Vishnu alongside repentance and right conduct is presented as a means to overcome karmic bondage.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse itself is ethical-karmic instruction rather than a Vedanga topic; practically, it points toward prāyaścitta (expiatory discipline) guided by dharma-śāstra and correct ritual procedure (kalpa) to avoid or remediate grave faults.