Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma

Devanagari script

षडशीतिसहस्त्राणि योजनार्निनि मुनीश्वर । यममार्गस्य विस्तारः कथितः पूर्वसूरिभिः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

ṣaḍaśītisahastrāṇi yojanārnini munīśvara | yamamārgasya vistāraḥ kathitaḥ pūrvasūribhiḥ || 3 ||

Translation

О владыка среди мудрецов, древние провидцы сказали, что протяжённость пути Ямы — восемьдесят шесть тысяч йоджан.

Word by Word

• षट्-अशीति-सहस्राणि: eighty-six thousand
• षट्-अशीति-सहस्राणि: Adhikarana/Pramana (प्रमाण/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्या) + अशीति (संख्या) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), बहुवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः (संख्यापूर्वकः)

• योजनानि: yojanas (a measure)
• योजनानि: Adhikarana/Pramana (प्रमाण/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• ऋणिनि: O indebted one (address)
• ऋणिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• मुनीश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनीश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनां ईश्वरः)

• यम-मार्गस्य: of the path of Yama
• यम-मार्गस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (यमस्य मार्गः)

• विस्तारः: extent
• विस्तारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• कथितः: has been described
• कथितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• पूर्व-सूरिभिः: by the ancient sages
• पूर्व-सूरिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सूरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (पूर्वाः सूरयः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Pūrvasūri (ancient seers)

FAQs

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

It frames the after-death journey as a vast, law-governed passage under Yama’s jurisdiction, emphasizing the seriousness of karma and Dharma as taught by the ancient rishis.

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

While not naming Bhakti directly, it sets the backdrop for why devotion and righteous living matter: the soul’s post-mortem course is real and consequential, and Narada Purana repeatedly positions devotion to the Lord and Dharma as protections against fear and suffering connected with Yama’s domain.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly uses traditional measures (yojana) and relies on authoritative transmission (pūrvasūri), reflecting the Purāṇic method of preserving cosmological and ethical knowledge rather than a specific Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.