Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

दीक्षितं क्षत्रियं हत्वा चरेद्धि ब्रह्महव्रतम् । अग्निप्रवेशनं वापि मरुत्प्रपतनं तथा ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

dīkṣitaṃ kṣatriyaṃ hatvā careddhi brahmahavratam | agnipraveśanaṃ vāpi marutprapatanaṃ tathā || 15 ||

Translation

ദീക്ഷിതനായ ക്ഷത്രിയനെ വധിച്ചാൽ തീർച്ചയായും ബ്രഹ്മഹത്യാവ്രതം ആചരിക്കണം. അല്ലെങ്കിൽ അഗ്നിയിൽ പ്രവേശിക്കൽ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഉയരത്തിൽ നിന്ന് വീഴൽ എന്നിവയും (പ്രായശ്ചിത്തമായി) പറയുന്നു॥१५॥

Word by Word

• दीक्षितम्: one who is initiated/consecrated
• दीक्षितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीक्षित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √दिक्ष्/दिक्ष् ‘to consecrate’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; कर्मपद (object)

• क्षत्रियम्: a Kshatriya
• क्षत्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; दीक्षितम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण/सम्बन्ध

• हत्वा: having killed
• हत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• चरेत्: should practice/undertake
• चरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• ब्रह्महव्रतम्: the vow/penance for Brahmin-slaying
• ब्रह्महव्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मह + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्महणः व्रतम्)

• अग्निप्रवेशनम्: entering into fire
• अग्निप्रवेशनम्: Karma (कर्म/विकल्प-प्रायश्चित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि + प्रवेशन्/प्रवेशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (contextual), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अग्नौ प्रवेशः)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• मरुत्प्रपतनम्: falling into the wind (from a height)
• मरुत्प्रपतनम्: Karma (कर्म/विकल्प-प्रायश्चित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरुत् + प्रपतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (contextual), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मरुत्सु/वायौ प्रपतनम्)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: likewise)

Speaker

Narada (teaching/pronouncing dharma and prāyaścitta rules)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: brahmahavrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It frames certain acts of violence—especially against a ritually consecrated person—as spiritually catastrophic and therefore requiring extreme prāyaścitta, emphasizing accountability and purification through vrata.

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

Indirectly: by insisting on purification through vows and expiation, it prepares the practitioner for sattva and inner fitness, which the Purāṇas treat as supportive ground for stable Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-practice knowledge connected to Kalpa (rules of rites and expiations) is implied—how specific transgressions map to specific prāyaścittas and vratas.