Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

अज्ञानान्मातरं गत्वा तत्सपत्नीमथापि वा । स्वयमेव स्वमुष्कं तु च्छिंद्यात्पापमुदीरयन् ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

ajñānānmātaraṃ gatvā tatsapatnīmathāpi vā | svayameva svamuṣkaṃ tu cchiṃdyātpāpamudīrayan || 57 ||

Translation

ଅଜ୍ଞାନବଶତଃ ଯଦି କେହି ପୁରୁଷ ନିଜ ମାତାଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ—କିମ୍ବା ପିତାଙ୍କ ଅନ୍ୟ ପତ୍ନୀଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ—ଗମନ କରେ, ତେବେ ପାପ ସ୍ୱୀକାର କରି ସ୍ୱୟଂ ନିଜ ଅଣ୍ଡକୋଷ ଛେଦ କରିବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• अज्ञानात्: out of ignorance
• अज्ञानात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; Ablative singular

• मातरम्: (one’s) mother
• मातरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• गत्वा: having gone to
• गत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; ल्यबन्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘having gone’

• तत्-सपत्नीम्: her co-wife
• तत्-सपत्नीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सपत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular; ‘her co-wife’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भ (particle ‘then/also’)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/सम्भावना (particle ‘also/even’)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प (disjunctive ‘or’)

• स्वयम्: oneself
• स्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कर्तृविशेषण (adverb ‘oneself’)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• स्व-मुष्कम्: his own testicle
• स्व-मुष्कम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular; ‘one’s own testicle’

• तु: then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अन्वय (particle)

• छिन्द्यात्: should cut off
• छिन्द्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘should cut off’

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• उदीरयन्: uttering (a confession/statement)
• उदीरयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + ईर् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘declaring/uttering’ (simultaneous action)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dharma-śāstra style instruction)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that certain transgressions are treated as extremely grave (mahāpātaka-like) and require severe self-denying expiation along with explicit confession, underscoring accountability and deterrence in dharma.

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

This verse is primarily dharma/prāyaścitta-focused rather than a direct bhakti teaching; indirectly, it frames moral purity and truthfulness (open confession) as foundations that support sincere worship and spiritual discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is dharma-śāstric procedure—acknowledging the offense (udīrayan) and undertaking prescribed prāyaścitta.