Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

स्ववर्णोत्तमवर्णस्त्रीगमने त्वविचारतः । ब्राह्महत्याव्रतं कुर्याद्वादशाब्दं समाहितः ॥ ६० ॥

Transliteration

svavarṇottamavarṇastrīgamane tvavicārataḥ | brāhmahatyāvrataṃ kuryādvādaśābdaṃ samāhitaḥ || 60 ||

Translation

சிந்திக்காமல் தன் வர்ணம் அல்லது உயர்ந்த வர்ணத்துப் பெண்ணுடன் உறவு கொண்டால், பன்னிரண்டு ஆண்டுகள் பிரம்மஹத்தி விரதத்தைக் கடைப்பிடிக்க வேண்டும்.

Word by Word

• स्व-वर्ण-उत्तम-वर्ण-स्त्री-गमने: in the act of going to a woman of one’s own caste or a higher caste
• स्व-वर्ण-उत्तम-वर्ण-स्त्री-गमने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + वर्ण + उत्तम + वर्ण + स्त्री + गमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास-समूहः (मुख्यतः तत्पुरुषः: स्त्रीगमनम्; तत्र स्ववर्ण/उत्तमवर्ण-विशेषणसम्बन्धः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचनम् (locative: ‘in/with regard to’)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• अविचारतः: without deliberation; thoughtlessly
• अविचारतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अविचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘from/through lack of consideration’

• ब्राह्म-हत्या-व्रतम्: the penance-vow for brahmin-slaying
• ब्राह्म-हत्या-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्म + हत्या + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (ब्राह्महत्यायाः व्रतम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु √कृ)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्

• द्वादश-अब्दम्: for twelve years
• द्वादश-अब्दम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश + अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समासः (द्वादश अब्दाः यस्य/परिमाणम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनम् (duration/measure)

• समाहितः: composed; self-controlled
• समाहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु √धा, कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (one who is composed/collected)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: brāhmahatyā-vrata (used here as expiation model)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It frames moral accountability in Dharma: a serious breach of social-ethical restraint requires long, disciplined penance, emphasizing self-control (samāhita) as the core of purification.

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

Indirectly, it supports Bhakti by insisting on inner discipline and purification through vrata; such restraint is presented as necessary groundwork for a stable, sattvic mind capable of sustained devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-practice knowledge is implied through prāyaścitta-vrata procedure (kalpa-style application): the verse specifies duration (twelve years) and the required mental posture (samāhita) for a prescribed expiation.