Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

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

Devanagari script

ग्रामेषु भूपालवरो यः कुर्यादधिकं करम् । स सहस्त्रकुलो भुङ्क्तेनरकं कल्पपञ्चसु ॥ ९१ ॥

Transliteration

grāmeṣu bhūpālavaro yaḥ kuryādadhikaṃ karam | sa sahastrakulo bhuṅktenarakaṃ kalpapañcasu || 91 ||

Translation

พระราชาผู้ยิ่งใหญ่ผู้ใดเรียกเก็บภาษีเกินควรจากหมู่บ้าน ผู้นั้นพร้อมด้วยตระกูลนับพัน ย่อมเสวยนรกตลอดห้ากัลปะ

Word by Word

• ग्रामेषु: in villages
• ग्रामेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), बहुवचन

• भूपाल-वरः: the best of kings
• भूपाल-वरः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूपाल (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (“best of kings”); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (relative pronoun)

• कुर्यात्: should do/levy
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन (in relative clause)

• अधिकम्: excessive/more
• अधिकम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करम् इति विशेषण

• करम्: tax
• करम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सहस्र-कुलः: (he) with a thousand families (i.e., along with his lineage)
• सहस्र-कुलः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (“having a thousand lineages/families [involved/affected]”); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सः इति विशेषण

• भुङ्क्ते: experiences/suffers
• भुङ्क्ते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नरकम्: hell
• नरकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कल्प-पञ्चसु: for five kalpas
• कल्प-पञ्चसु: कालाधिकरण (Temporal locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numeral compound: “five kalpas”); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It frames taxation as a moral act under Rajadharma: exploiting subjects through excessive levies becomes a grave adharma that yields long-term karmic suffering, extending even to one’s lineage.

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

By implication, devotion is not separate from ethics: a ruler devoted to Dharma (and thus fit for Vishnu-bhakti) must protect subjects and avoid oppression; cruelty and greed obstruct purity needed for devotional life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Dharma-shastra style applied governance (Rajadharma) rather than a specific Vedanga; the practical takeaway is calibrated, lawful revenue collection aligned with social welfare and ritual-economic balance.