Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

रजस्वलादिगमनं गुरुतल्पसमं स्मृतम् । हीनजात्याभिगमनं मद्यपस्त्रीनिषेवणम् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

rajasvalādigamanaṃ gurutalpasamaṃ smṛtam | hīnajātyābhigamanaṃ madyapastrīniṣevaṇam || 41 ||

Translation

ਰਜਸਵਲਾ ਆਦਿ ਨਾਲ ਗਮਨ ਗੁਰੂ-ਤਲਪ ਦੇ ਦੋਸ਼ ਦੇ ਬਰਾਬਰ ਕਿਹਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਅਤੇ ਨਿਸ਼ਿਧ/ਹੀਣ ਜਾਤ ਦੀ ਇਸਤਰੀ ਨਾਲ ਗਮਨ, ਤੇ ਮਦਿਰਾਪਾਨ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੀ ਇਸਤਰੀ ਦੀ ਸੰਗਤ ਵੀ (ਉਸੇ ਘੋਰ ਦੋਸ਼ ਵਿੱਚ) ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• रजस्वला: a menstruating woman
• रजस्वला: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस्वला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (compound stem used as पूर्वपद)

• आदि: and the like
• आदि: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (etc., and others)

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

• गुरुतल्पसमम्: equal to violating the guru’s bed
• गुरुतल्पसमम्: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + तल्प (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’

• हीनजात्या: with a low-caste (woman)
• हीनजात्या: सह/करण (Instrument/Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक) + जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘with/by a low caste (woman)’—instrumental of association

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

• मद्यप: a drunkard
• मद्यप: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्यप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (compound stem used as पूर्वपद); ‘wine-drinker’

• स्त्री: woman
• स्त्री: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (compound stem used as पूर्वपद)

• निषेवणम्: indulgence; sexual association
• निषेवणम्: कर्ता-निर्देश (विषय/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि-√सेव् (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियानाम (indulgence/sexual association)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It classifies certain sexual acts as “mahāpātaka-like” by equating them with gurutalpa, emphasizing that dharma is protected by strict restraint and purity of conduct.

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

By warning against conduct that severely obstructs inner purity, it indirectly supports bhakti: devotion to Vishnu is strengthened when one avoids actions that create heavy pāpa and mental agitation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Smṛti/ācāra-based dharma classification used in ritual law and prāyaścitta decision-making (a practical application of dharma-śāstra reasoning rather than a specific Vedāṅga like Jyotiṣa).