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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 121

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

अवमान्य द्विजान्वाग्भिर्ब्रह्महत्यां च विन्दति । सर्वाश्चयातना भुक्त्वा चाण्डालो दशजन्मसु ॥ १२१ ॥

avamānya dvijānvāgbhirbrahmahatyāṃ ca vindati | sarvāścayātanā bhuktvā cāṇḍālo daśajanmasu || 121 ||

Quem insulta os dvijas (os “duas vezes nascidos”) com palavras ásperas incorre em pecado igual ao de brahma-hatyā (matar um brāhmaṇa). Após sofrer todas as punições, renasce como caṇḍāla por dez vidas.

अवमान्यhaving insulted
अवमान्य:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअव + मन् (धातु) → अवमान्य (कृदन्त, क्त्वान्त/gerund)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थक अव्ययीभाव (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया—'having insulted'
द्विजान्twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
द्विजान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन
वाग्भिःby words
वाग्भिः:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootवाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; 'with words/speech'
ब्रह्महत्याम्the sin of brahmin-slaying
ब्रह्महत्याम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन् + हत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः—ब्रह्मणः हत्या (brahmin-slaying sin)
and
:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय
विन्दतिincurs/obtains
विन्दति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootविद् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
सर्वाःall
सर्वाः:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणं 'यातनाः'
and
:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय
यातनाःtorments/punishments
यातनाः:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootयातना (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन
भुक्त्वाhaving endured
भुक्त्वा:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootभुज् (धातु) → भुक्त्वा (कृदन्त, क्त्वान्त/gerund)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया—'having experienced/endured'
चाण्डालःa caṇḍāla
चाण्डालः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootचाण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन
दशजन्मसुin ten births
दशजन्मसु:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootदश + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः—दश जन्मानि (in ten births)

Narada

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

D
Dvija
B
Brahmahatya
C
Candala

FAQs

It warns that contemptuous speech toward dvijas is not a minor fault but a grave adharma, producing heavy karmic suffering and degraded rebirth, emphasizing restraint of speech as a core spiritual discipline.

Bhakti is grounded in humility and reverence; abusing the worthy with words contradicts devotional character. The verse implies that devotion to Vishnu must be accompanied by sāttvika speech and respect for dharma-bearers.

It highlights śikṣā and vyākaraṇa in their applied sense—discipline of speech (vāṇī-saṃyama) and correct verbal conduct—showing that Vedic learning must manifest as ethical, non-injurious communication.