Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 163

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

Devanagari script

केशास्थिनखदन्दाश्च भस्मापि नृपसत्तम । नयति विष्णुसदनं स्पृष्टा गाङ्गेन वारिणा ॥ १६३ ॥

Transliteration

keśāsthinakhadandāśca bhasmāpi nṛpasattama | nayati viṣṇusadanaṃ spṛṣṭā gāṅgena vāriṇā || 163 ||

Translation

ข้าแต่มหาราชผู้ประเสริฐ แม้เส้นผม กระดูก เล็บ ฟัน—กระทั่งเถ้าธุลี—เมื่อถูกต้องด้วยสายน้ำศักดิ์สิทธิ์แห่งคงคา ย่อมถูกนำไปสู่พระนิเวศของพระวิษณุ

Word by Word

• केश: hairs
• केश: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अस्थि: bones
• अस्थि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नख: nails
• नख: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दन्ताः: teeth
• दन्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

• भस्म: ashes
• भस्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also/even)

• नृपसत्तम: O best of kings
• नृपसत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नयति: leads/takes
• नयति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• विष्णुसदनम्: Vishnu’s abode
• विष्णुसदनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + सदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्पृष्टा: having been touched
• स्पृष्टा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु) + क्त (Kta)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• गाङ्गेन: by (the) Ganga-related
• गाङ्गेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier)

• वारिणा: by water
• वारिणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Ganga

FAQs

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

It teaches the extraordinary salvific power (tīrtha-māhātmya) of the Gaṅgā: even residual bodily elements or ashes gain a liberating connection that directs the departed toward Viṣṇu’s realm.

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

By naming “Viṣṇu-sadana” as the destination, the verse frames Gaṅgā-contact as an act that supports Viṣṇu-bhakti—linking sacred practice (tīrtha-sevā) with the grace-oriented goal of reaching the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It most directly reflects ritual application (kalpa/antyeṣṭi practice): the purification and merit associated with contact of Gaṅgā-water, especially relevant to post-death rites such as ash-immersion.