Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

Hari-nāma Mahimā and Caraṇāmṛta: The Redemption of the Hunter Gulika

Uttaṅka Itihāsa

Devanagari script

जन्मकोट्यर्जितं पापं विष्णुपूजारतात्मनाम् । क्षयं याति क्षणादेव तेषां स्यात्पापधीः कथम् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

janmakoṭyarjitaṃ pāpaṃ viṣṇupūjāratātmanām | kṣayaṃ yāti kṣaṇādeva teṣāṃ syātpāpadhīḥ katham || 11 ||

Translation

ବିଷ୍ଣୁପୂଜାରେ ରତ ଆତ୍ମାମାନଙ୍କର କୋଟି ଜନ୍ମରେ ସଞ୍ଚିତ ପାପ କ୍ଷଣମାତ୍ରେ ନଶ୍ଟ ହୋଇଯାଏ; ତେବେ ସେମାନଙ୍କର ପାପବୁଦ୍ଧି କିପରି ରହିବ?

Word by Word

• जन्म-कोटि-अर्जितम्: accumulated over crores of births
• जन्म-कोटि-अर्जितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; क्त from अर्ज्)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; तत्पुरुषः—जन्मकोट्या अर्जितम् (earned over crores of births)

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• विष्णु-पूजा-रत-आत्मनाम्: of those devoted in self to Vishnu-worship
• विष्णु-पूजा-रत-आत्मनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुषः—विष्णुपूजायां रतः आत्मा येषाम् (whose selves are devoted to Vishnu-worship)

• क्षयम्: destruction/cessation
• क्षयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; 3rd Person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• क्षणात्: from/in a moment
• क्षणात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थ (just/indeed)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• स्यात्: could be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद; 3rd Person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• पाप-धीः: sinful thought
• पाप-धीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः—पापा धीः (sinful thought)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It declares the doctrine of pāpa-kṣaya through single-pointed Viṣṇu-bhakti: even vast karmic impurity is said to be burned up instantly when one is absorbed in Viṣṇu-pūjā, leaving no basis for self-identification as “sinful.”

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

Bhakti is presented as total absorption (rata-ātman) in worship, not merely occasional ritual; such unwavering devotion to Viṣṇu is portrayed as spiritually transformative and karmically purifying.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is primarily bhakti-centered rather than Vedāṅga-technical; its practical takeaway is ritual application—consistent Viṣṇu-pūjā (upacāra, mantra, and disciplined worship) as a purificatory sādhana.