Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

भक्ष्यन्ते मूत्रपानं च पुरीषह्लद एव च । तप्तशूलं तप्तशिला शाल्मलीद्रुम एव च ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

bhakṣyante mūtrapānaṃ ca purīṣahlada eva ca | taptaśūlaṃ taptaśilā śālmalīdruma eva ca || 5 ||

Translation

Eles são forçados a comer imundícies e beber urina; também são mergulhados em um lamaçal de excrementos. São atormentados por lanças em brasa, pedras quentes e até pela árvore śālmalī com seus espinhos dolorosos.

Word by Word

• bhakṣyante: they eat/are made to eat
• bhakṣyante: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhakṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• mūtra-pānam: urine-drinking
• mūtra-pānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūtra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘drinking of urine’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction ‘and’)

• purīṣa-hladaḥ: Purīṣahlada (excrement-pool; hell-name)
• purīṣa-hladaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purīṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + hlada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘pool/pleasure of excrement’; hell-name)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle of emphasis ‘indeed/just’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• tapta-śūlam: heated spear/trident (torture)
• tapta-śūlam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √tap) + śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘heated spear/trident’)

• tapta-śilā: heated rock/slab
• tapta-śilā: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √tap) + śilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘heated rock/slab’)

• śālmalī-drumaḥ: Śālmalī tree (silk-cotton tree; torture-tree)
• śālmalī-drumaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālmalī (प्रातिपदिक) + druma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘Śālmalī tree’)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (in dialogue with Nārada, describing naraka punishments)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Naraka

FAQs

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

It stresses karma-phala: harmful, impure, and adharmic conduct leads to severe naraka experiences, urging the listener to choose dharma, purity, and repentance (prāyaścitta) while alive.

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

By showing the terror of pāpa consequences, it indirectly motivates śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) and sustained Vishnu-bhakti as a dharmic life-principle that restrains sin and supports liberation-oriented living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it functions as dharma-śikṣā (ethical instruction) supporting proper conduct and the need for prāyaścitta and regulated ritual life.