Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

कांस्यपित्तलमुख्येषु ह्ययस्कांते तथैव च । सहस्रनिष्कमाने तु पराकं परिकीर्तितम् ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

kāṃsyapittalamukhyeṣu hyayaskāṃte tathaiva ca | sahasraniṣkamāne tu parākaṃ parikīrtitam || 55 ||

Translation

కాంస్యము, పిత్తలము మొదలైన పాత్రలలోను, అలాగే అయస్కాంతము (లోహచుంబక/ఇనుము) విషయములోను, ‘పరాక’ అనే ప్రమాణం వెయ్యి నిష్కల పరిమాణమని ప్రకటించబడింది.

Word by Word

• कांस्य-पित्तल-मुख्येषु: among bronze, brass, and the like
• कांस्य-पित्तल-मुख्येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कांस्य + पित्तल + मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; Locative plural; ‘among (items) such as bronze and brass, etc.’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle/emphasis)

• अयस्कान्ते: in the case of magnet (lodestone)
• अयस्कान्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयस्कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular; ‘in/with magnet (lodestone)’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एव: just, indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle of emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सहस्र-निष्क-माने: in (theft of) value of a thousand niṣkas
• सहस्र-निष्क-माने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + निष्क + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular; (सहस्रनिष्कस्य मानम्) ‘in the measure/value of a thousand niṣkas’

• तु: then, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय (particle ‘but/indeed’)

• पराकम्: the Parāka (penance)
• पराकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative/Nominative singular; name of a penance

• परिकीर्तितम्: is prescribed/declared
• परिकीर्तितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is proclaimed’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes dharma through precision in ritual practice: correct measures (māna) ensure that gifts and offerings (dāna/karma) are performed with integrity and intended merit.

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

While not directly describing bhakti, it supports devotional worship by standardizing the material discipline behind offerings—devotion expressed through properly measured, rule-based service (sevā) and dāna.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (Vedāṅga) is highlighted—specifically ritual procedure and measurement systems, defining the ‘parāka’ unit as a quantified standard (one thousand niṣkas) for use in prescribed acts.