Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites

Devanagari script

तप्तकृच्छ्रं तु पाषाणे शस्त्रे चाप्यतिकृच्छ्रकम् । औषधं स्नेहमाहारं दद्याद्गोब्राह्मणेषु च ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

taptakṛcchraṃ tu pāṣāṇe śastre cāpyatikṛcchrakam | auṣadhaṃ snehamāhāraṃ dadyādgobrāhmaṇeṣu ca || 46 ||

Translation

Na ofensa que envolva pedra, deve-se cumprir a penitência Taptakṛcchra; e na que envolva arma, a mais severa Atikṛcchra. Deve-se ainda oferecer como dádiva remédios, ghee (manteiga clarificada) e alimento—especialmente às vacas e aos brāhmaṇas.

Word by Word

• tapta-kṛcchram: (the penance) Tapta-kṛcchra
• tapta-kṛcchram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapta (कृदन्त: तप् + क्त) + kṛcchra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय ‘heated/severe kṛcchra (penance)’

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) ‘but/indeed’

• pāṣāṇe: in the case of a stone
• pāṣāṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṣāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• śastre: in the case of a weapon
• śastre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय) ‘and’

• api: also
• api: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) ‘also’

• ati-kṛcchrakam: Atikṛcchraka (very severe penance)
• ati-kṛcchrakam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ati (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + kṛcchraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; उपसर्गपूर्वक तत्पुरुष ‘very severe (penance)’

• auṣadham: medicine
• auṣadham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: auṣadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sneham: fat/oil (unctuous substance)
• sneham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āhāram: food
• āhāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु: दा)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• go-brāhmaṇeṣu: among cows and Brahmins
• go-brāhmaṇeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; द्वन्द्व ‘among cows and Brahmins’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Taptakṛcchra (as prāyaścitta-vrata) / Atikṛcchra (as prāyaścitta-vrata)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Gau (Cow)
• Brahmana

FAQs

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

It links expiation (prāyaścitta) with compassionate restitution: austerity corrects the doer, while gifts of medicine, ghee, and food restore welfare in society—especially through honoring cows and Brāhmaṇas, key supports of dharma.

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

Though framed as prāyaścitta, it reflects bhakti’s ethical core: humility, self-discipline, and service (dāna). By repairing harm through penance and nourishing gifts, the devotee aligns conduct with dharmic devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Kalpa (ritual procedure) through named prāyaścitta-vratas—Taptakṛcchra and Atikṛcchra—and the practical rule that expiation is paired with prescribed charity (dāna) items suitable for sustenance and healing.