Previous Verse
Next Verse

Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 83

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

तमोग्रस्तान पश्यंति प्रकाशंतमसावृताः । सुदुष्प्रकाश इत्याहुर्नरकं तम एव च ॥ ८३ ॥

tamograstāna paśyaṃti prakāśaṃtamasāvṛtāḥ | suduṣprakāśa ityāhurnarakaṃ tama eva ca || 83 ||

Mereka yang dikuasai tamas (kegelapan) melihat yang bercahaya seakan-akan diselubungi gelap. Mereka berkata, “sukar diterangi”; dan kegelapan itulah sendiri neraka.

तमोग्रस्तान्those seized by darkness
तमोग्रस्तान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootतमस् (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रस्त (√ग्रस् + क्त, कृदन्त)
Formतत्पुरुष समास (तमसा ग्रस्त = तमोग्रस्त); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case, Accusative), बहुवचन
पश्यन्तिsee
पश्यन्ति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√पश्/√दृश् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन
प्रकाशम्light
प्रकाशम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case, Accusative), एकवचन
तमसाby darkness
तमसा:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootतमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case, Instrumental), एकवचन
आवृताःcovered
आवृताः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootआ√वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकर्मणि (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन
सुदुष्प्रकाशःvery hard to see/very dim
सुदुष्प्रकाशः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootसु (अव्यय) + दुष् (अव्यय) + प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय/उपपद-समास (सु-दुष्-प्रकाश = अत्यन्तं दुष्प्रकाशः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन
इतिthus
इति:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formउद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)
आहुःthey say
आहुः:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√अह्/√ब्रू (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन
नरकम्hell
नरकम्:
Samanaadhikarana/Predicate (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
TypeNoun
Rootनरक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here predicate/apposition
तमःdarkness
तमः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन
एवindeed
एव:
Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle), emphatic
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय (conjunction)

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

It teaches that “hell” is not only a place but an inner condition: when tamas dominates, even clear truth appears obscure, and that obscuration itself becomes suffering.

By implying that devotion and remembrance of the Divine remove tamas; when the heart is purified, the “light” (dharma and truth) is naturally perceived rather than dismissed as unknowable.

No specific Vedanga is taught directly; the practical takeaway is discernment (viveka): recognize tamas-driven perceptions and counter them through disciplined study, ethical conduct, and steady spiritual practice.