Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1
Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy
धर्मराज उवाच । पाप भेदान्प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा स्थूलाश्च यातनाः । श्रृणुष्व धैर्यमास्थाय रौद्रा ये नरका यतः ॥ १ ॥
dharmarāja uvāca | pāpa bhedānpravakṣyāmi yathā sthūlāśca yātanāḥ | śrṛṇuṣva dhairyamāsthāya raudrā ye narakā yataḥ || 1 ||
தர்மராஜன் கூறினான்—பாவங்களின் வகைகளையும், அதற்குரிய கடுமையான வேதனைகளையும் நான் விளக்குவேன். தைரியத்துடன் கேள்; இத்துன்பங்கள் எழும் அந்தக் கொடூர நரகங்களை.
Dharmarāja (Yama)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
FAQs
It frames a dharma-teaching: actions (pāpa) have definite karmic results, and the Purana urges the listener to face this truth with steadiness so one reforms conduct and seeks purification.
By highlighting the fearsome consequences of wrongdoing, it implicitly motivates turning toward dharma and sincere devotion to the Lord as a stabilizing refuge, leading to moral restraint and inner purification.
No specific Vedāṅga is taught in this verse; it functions as a dharma-adhyāya preface, preparing the listener for ethical instruction about karma and its results.