Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

ततस्तैर्योषितो मुक्ता हुताशनसमोज्ज्वलम् । यः स्तम्भं समाश्लिष्य तिष्ठन्त्यब्दसहस्त्रकम् ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

tatastairyoṣito muktā hutāśanasamojjvalam | yaḥ stambhaṃ samāśliṣya tiṣṭhantyabdasahastrakam || 74 ||

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം അവർ ആ സ്ത്രീകളെ വിട്ടയച്ചു; അഗ്നിസമമായ ദീപ്തിയാൽ ജ്വലിക്കുന്ന ഒരു തൂണിനെ ആലിംഗനം ചെയ്ത് അവർ ആയിരം വർഷം അവിടെ നിലകൊണ്ടു।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Avyaya (अव्यय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय) of sequence

• taiḥ: by them
• taiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yoṣitaḥ: women
• yoṣitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन) (Vedic/epic variant ending)

• muktāḥ: released/freed
• muktāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of yoṣitaḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √muc)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); past passive participle used adjectivally

• hutāśana-sama-ujjvalam: shining like fire
• hutāśana-sama-ujjvalam: Karma (कर्म) (object/descriptor of stambham)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hutāśana (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक) + ujjvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘bright like fire’ (upamā-based)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• stambham: pillar/post
• stambham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stambha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• samāśliṣya: having embraced/clung to
• samāśliṣya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śliṣ (धातु) + sam- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्)

• tiṣṭhanti: they stand/remain
• tiṣṭhanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• abda-sahasrakam: a thousand years
• abda-sahasrakam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abda (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + ka (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); measure of time used adverbially

Speaker

Suta

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Hutashana (Agni)

FAQs

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

It portrays the intensity of tapas (austerity) and the long duration of karmic consequence—remaining bound to a fiery, radiant pillar for a thousand years—highlighting how actions can lead to prolonged states of suffering or penance until release is earned.

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

By showing a severe, fearsome form of endurance tied to karma and punishment, the verse indirectly contrasts such harsh penance with the Narada Purana’s broader emphasis that devotion and surrender (bhakti) offer a more direct, purifying path than merely undergoing painful austerities.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual vocabulary connected to Agni (hutāśana) is foregrounded, reflecting the sacrificial/ritual worldview (yajña context) rather than a technical Vedanga lesson; the key takeaway is the symbolic role of fire in purification, punishment, and ritual discipline.