Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

रुद्राक्षहरणं चैव स्वर्णस्तेयसमं स्मृतम् । भागीनीगमनं चैव पुत्रस्त्रीगमनं तथा ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

rudrākṣaharaṇaṃ caiva svarṇasteyasamaṃ smṛtam | bhāgīnīgamanaṃ caiva putrastrīgamanaṃ tathā || 40 ||

Translation

रुद्राक्षाचे हरणही सुवर्णचोरीसमान मानले आहे. तसेच भगिनीसह गमन आणि पुत्रवधूसह गमनही (तसेच) आहे.

Word by Word

• रुद्राक्ष: rudrākṣa beads
• रुद्राक्ष: सम्बन्ध (Genitival relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (compound stem used as पूर्वपद)

• हरणम्: taking away; theft
• हरणम्: कर्ता-निर्देश (विषय/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √हृ (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियानाम

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphasis)

• स्वर्णस्तेयसमम्: equal to gold-theft
• स्वर्णस्तेयसमम्: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तेय (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्मृतम्: is regarded (as)
• स्मृतम्: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is considered’

• भागीनी: (one’s) sister
• भागीनी: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (compound stem used as पूर्वपद)

• गमनम्: going to; intercourse
• गमनम्: कर्ता-निर्देश (विषय/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √गम् (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियानाम (going; sexual approach by context)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• पुत्रस्त्री: son’s wife (daughter-in-law)
• पुत्रस्त्री: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (compound stem used as पूर्वपद); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘son’s wife’

• गमनम्: going to; intercourse
• गमनम्: कर्ता-निर्देश (विषय/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √गम् (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियानाम

• तथा: likewise; also
• तथा: समुच्चय/प्रकार
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (likewise)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-instruction context; traditionally framed within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Rudraksha

FAQs

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

The verse ranks certain acts as grave transgressions by equating them with major theft (gold theft), emphasizing that sacred items (rudrākṣa) and family-boundaries are protected by dharma and violations carry severe spiritual demerit (pāpa).

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

Bhakti in the Narada Purana is supported by ethical restraint (ācāra). The verse implies that devotion is not merely ritual or emotion—purity of conduct, respect for sacred objects, and strict sexual discipline are foundational for a mind fit for worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Dharma-śāstra style moral classification (often taught alongside Kalpa-related tradition): distinguishing prohibited acts and their relative gravity, guiding practical conduct and ritual purity rather than grammar or astrology.