Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

प्रायश्चित्तं तु रत्नानां स्तेये राजतवत्स्मृतम् । गुरुतल्पगतानां च प्रायश्चित्तमुदीर्यते ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

prāyaścittaṃ tu ratnānāṃ steye rājatavatsmṛtam | gurutalpagatānāṃ ca prāyaścittamudīryate || 56 ||

Translation

రత్నాల దొంగతనానికి ప్రాయశ్చిత్తం వెండి దొంగతనానికి సమానమని స్మృతిలో చెప్పబడింది. అలాగే గురుతల్పగాముల (గురువు శయ్యను లంఘించినవారి) ప్రాయశ్చిత్తమూ వివరించబడింది.

Word by Word

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative/Accusative singular

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय (particle)

• रत्नानाम्: of jewels
• रत्नानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• स्तेये: in theft
• स्तेये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular; ‘in theft’

• राजत-वत्: as (in the case of) silver
• राजत-वत्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: राजत (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान (comparative particle) ‘like/as’

• स्मृतम्: is stated
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is stated/remembered (in tradition)’

• गुरुतल्प-गतानाम्: of those guilty of violating the guru’s bed
• गुरुतल्प-गतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरुतल्प + गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; Genitive plural; (गुरुतल्पं गताः) ‘of those who have gone to the guru’s bed’ (i.e., committed that offense)

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

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• उदीर्यते: is proclaimed
• उदीर्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + ईर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive) ‘is declared’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Dharma/Prāyaścitta context, traditionally within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Guru

FAQs

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

It frames prāyaścitta as a Dharma tool to restore moral and ritual order: even serious transgressions are addressed through codified penances, emphasizing accountability and purification.

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

Indirectly: by prescribing purification after wrongdoing, it supports a life fit for sādhana and worship—ethical conduct and rectification are treated as foundations for sustained devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Dharma-śāstra/Smṛti-based ritual jurisprudence: the verse applies rule-by-analogy (ratna theft treated like silver theft) and categorizes grave offenses (mahāpātaka such as gurutalpa) with corresponding penances.