Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

तस्योपनयनं भूयस्तप्तकृच्छ्रं चरेत्तथा । समक्षं वा परोक्षं वा बलाच्चौयण वा तथा ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

tasyopanayanaṃ bhūyastaptakṛcchraṃ carettathā | samakṣaṃ vā parokṣaṃ vā balāccauyaṇa vā tathā || 33 ||

Translation

Для него следует вновь совершить упанаяну и также пройти покаяние, называемое таптакриччхра (taptakṛcchra), — произошло ли это при свидетелях или тайно, даже если случилось по принуждению или также вследствие кражи.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; genitive of 'tad'

• उपनयनम्: upanayana
• उपनयनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपनयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; prescribed act (object of 'caret')

• भूयः: again
• भूयः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरर्थक (again)

• तप्त-कृच्छ्रम्: the taptakṛcchra penance
• तप्त-कृच्छ्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्त (कृदन्त; √तप् (धातु) + क्त) + कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—'तप्तं कृच्छ्रम्' (a 'heated'/severe penance)

• चरेत्: should perform/practise
• चरेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ (also/likewise)

• समक्षम्: openly; in presence
• समक्षम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् अव्यय-प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (in the presence/openly)

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय (Alternative connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थ (or)

• परोक्षम्: secretly; out of sight
• परोक्षम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (secretly/without being seen)

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय (Alternative connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थ

• बलात्: forcibly
• बलात्: हेतु/करण (Cause/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः (तसिल्/पञ्चमी-अर्थे); हेत्वर्थ/प्रकार (by force/forcibly)

• चौयणम्: theft (act of stealing)
• चौयणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चौयण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (reading as 'cauyaṇa'—act of theft/stealing)

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय (Alternative connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थ

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma/prāyaścitta context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Taptakṛcchra (penance); Upanayana (re-performance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It emphasizes restoration of dharmic purity through saṁskāra (re-initiation) and prāyaścitta (taptakṛcchra), showing that inner rectification matters regardless of whether the fault was public or hidden.

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

While not directly a bhakti-verse, it supports bhakti-life by prescribing purification after lapses—so the practitioner can return to disciplined worship with renewed eligibility and integrity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa/Vaidika ritual procedure: rules for saṁskāra (upanayana) and the application of specific expiatory observances (kṛcchra) as part of dharma-śāstric practice.