Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

एतेषां पापबाहुल्यान्नरकं कोटिकल्पकम् । प्रायश्चित्तविहीनानि प्रोक्तान्यन्यानि च प्रभो ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

eteṣāṃ pāpabāhulyānnarakaṃ koṭikalpakam | prāyaścittavihīnāni proktānyanyāni ca prabho || 54 ||

Translation

ప్రభో! వీటిలో పాపబాహుల్యం ఉన్నందున కోటి కల్పముల వరకు నరకఫలం కలుగుతుంది; అలాగే ప్రాయశ్చిత్తం లేనివిగా ఇతర కర్మలూ చెప్పబడ్డాయి.

Word by Word

• एतेषाम्: of these
• एतेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (pronoun)

• पापबाहुल्यात्: due to the abundance of sins
• पापबाहुल्यात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापबाहुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th case/ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: पाप + बाहुल्य (abundance)

• नरकम्: hell
• नरकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कोटिकल्पकम्: lasting crores of kalpas
• कोटिकल्पकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि + कल्पक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: कोटि (crore) + कल्पक (lasting for kalpas)

• प्रायश्चित्तविहीनानि: devoid of expiation
• प्रायश्चित्तविहीनानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त + विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: प्रायश्चित्त (expiation) + विहीन (devoid of)

• प्रोक्तानि: are declared/said
• प्रोक्तानि: Kriya (क्रिया/भूतकर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अन्यानि: other
• अन्यानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (addressing the Lord/teacher in the dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It underscores the gravity of certain heavily sinful actions, warning that their karmic weight can result in extremely prolonged suffering in naraka, and that some deeds are declared “prāyaścitta-vihīna” (not easily neutralized by ordinary atonements).

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

By highlighting the terrifying consequence of pāpa, it indirectly urges the seeker toward a dharmic, purified life supportive of Vishnu-bhakti—since devotion thrives on inner cleanliness (śuddhi) and restraint from grave wrongdoing.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse aligns with Dharma-oriented prāyaścitta reasoning (ritual-ethical discipline) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; its practical takeaway is discernment about prohibited acts and the limits of expiation described in smṛti-purāṇic frameworks.