Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites

Devanagari script

निशल्यकरणे चैव प्रायश्चित्तं न विद्यते । वत्सानां कण्ठबन्धेन क्रिययाभेषजेन तु ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

niśalyakaraṇe caiva prāyaścittaṃ na vidyate | vatsānāṃ kaṇṭhabandhena kriyayābheṣajena tu || 48 ||

Translation

निशल्यकरणाच्या कर्मास प्रायश्चित्त सांगितलेले नाही; वासरांच्या बाबतीत कंठबांधणी इत्यादी व्यवहार्य क्रिया व औषध यांद्वारेच उपचार करावा।

Word by Word

• niśalya-karaṇe: in the act of removing an arrow/foreign body
• niśalya-karaṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśalya-karaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; niḥ-śalya + karaṇa)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (singular); अधिकरण (locative of circumstance)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• prāyaścittam: expiation
• prāyaścittam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāyaścitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• vidyate: exists/is found
• vidyate: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (विद्) (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), आत्मनेपद; भावे/सत्तायाम्—‘exists/is found’

• vatsānām: of the calves
• vatsānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (plural); सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• kaṇṭha-bandhena: by the tying of the neck (throat-binding)
• kaṇṭha-bandhena: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇṭha-bandha (प्रातिपदिक; kaṇṭha + bandha)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (singular); करण (instrument)

• kriyayā: by a procedure/act
• kriyayā: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (singular); करण (instrument)

• bheṣajena: by medicine/remedy
• bheṣajena: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheṣaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (singular); करण (instrument)

• tu: but/however
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक अव्यय (but/indeed; contrastive particle)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition; instructional voice on dharma/prāyaścitta)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It clarifies a key dharma principle: not every action requires expiation—when an act is remedial and life-protecting (like removing a lodged object), it is treated as a practical duty rather than a moral fault.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti-centered dharma by separating genuine wrongdoing from necessary care; a devotee serves life and duty without anxiety over unwarranted guilt, focusing the mind on righteous action and remembrance rather than fear.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied dharma-śāstra reasoning (ritual jurisprudence) and recognizes medical practice (bheṣaja) and procedure (kriyā) as appropriate responses—showing how technical knowledge complements religious observance.