Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

स्ववर्णोत्तमवर्णस्त्रीगमने त्वविचारतः । ब्राह्महत्याव्रतं कुर्याद्वादशाब्दं समाहितः ॥ ६० ॥

Transliteration

svavarṇottamavarṇastrīgamane tvavicārataḥ | brāhmahatyāvrataṃ kuryādvādaśābdaṃ samāhitaḥ || 60 ||

Translation

Jika seorang lelaki dari kastanya sendiri melakukan hubungan dengan wanita dari kasta yang lebih tinggi tanpa pertimbangan, dia harus menjalani sumpah penebusan dosa pembunuhan brahmin selama dua belas tahun.

Word by Word

• स्व-वर्ण-उत्तम-वर्ण-स्त्री-गमने: in the act of going to a woman of one’s own caste or a higher caste
• स्व-वर्ण-उत्तम-वर्ण-स्त्री-गमने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + वर्ण + उत्तम + वर्ण + स्त्री + गमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास-समूहः (मुख्यतः तत्पुरुषः: स्त्रीगमनम्; तत्र स्ववर्ण/उत्तमवर्ण-विशेषणसम्बन्धः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचनम् (locative: ‘in/with regard to’)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• अविचारतः: without deliberation; thoughtlessly
• अविचारतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अविचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘from/through lack of consideration’

• ब्राह्म-हत्या-व्रतम्: the penance-vow for brahmin-slaying
• ब्राह्म-हत्या-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्म + हत्या + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (ब्राह्महत्यायाः व्रतम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु √कृ)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्

• द्वादश-अब्दम्: for twelve years
• द्वादश-अब्दम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश + अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समासः (द्वादश अब्दाः यस्य/परिमाणम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनम् (duration/measure)

• समाहितः: composed; self-controlled
• समाहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु √धा, कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (one who is composed/collected)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: brāhmahatyā-vrata (used here as expiation model)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It frames moral accountability in Dharma: a serious breach of social-ethical restraint requires long, disciplined penance, emphasizing self-control (samāhita) as the core of purification.

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

Indirectly, it supports Bhakti by insisting on inner discipline and purification through vrata; such restraint is presented as necessary groundwork for a stable, sattvic mind capable of sustained devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-practice knowledge is implied through prāyaścitta-vrata procedure (kalpa-style application): the verse specifies duration (twelve years) and the required mental posture (samāhita) for a prescribed expiation.