Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma

Devanagari script

शौचंतः स्वानि कर्मणि तूष्णीं तिष्टंति भीषिताः । यमाज्ञाकारिणः क्रूरश्चंडा दूता भयानकाः ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

śaucaṃtaḥ svāni karmaṇi tūṣṇīṃ tiṣṭaṃti bhīṣitāḥ | yamājñākāriṇaḥ krūraścaṃḍā dūtā bhayānakāḥ || 53 ||

Translation

ด้วยความหวาดกลัว พวกเขายืนนิ่งเงียบ ทำหน้าที่ของตน—เหล่าทูตของยมผู้ปฏิบัติตามบัญชา อำมหิต ดุร้าย และน่าสะพรึงกลัว

Word by Word

• शौचन्तः: (being) purified/cleansed
• शौचन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (present-participle-like usage in some recensions; here treated as nominal ‘the purified/cleansed ones’ per spelling)

• स्वानि: their own
• स्वानि: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (agreeing with कर्माणि understood)

• कर्मणि: in (their) deeds
• कर्मणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (locative; ‘in/with regard to action/deed’)

• तूष्णीम्: silently
• तूष्णीम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूष्णीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: silently)

• तिष्ठन्ति: stand, remain
• तिष्ठन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• भीषिताः: frightened
• भीषिताः: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीषित (कृदन्त; √भी धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (agreeing with subject)

• यम: of Yama
• यम: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (in compound relation)

• आज्ञा: command
• आज्ञा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (in compound relation)

• कारिणः: doers of Yama’s command, executors
• कारिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक; from √कृ)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: यम-आज्ञा-कारिणः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• क्रूरः: cruel
• क्रूरः: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (qualifying implied group; text has singular with following plurals—likely metrical/orthographic variation)

• चण्डाः: fierce
• चण्डाः: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• दूताः: messengers
• दूताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• भयानकाः: terrifying
• भयानकाः: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Yamaduta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the inevitability of karmic administration: Yama’s messengers execute cosmic justice with strict discipline, reminding seekers to live in accordance with dharma and purify conduct.

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

By highlighting fearsome consequences under Yama’s order, the verse indirectly urges refuge in righteous living and God-centered devotion, which Narada repeatedly presents as the liberating alternative to bondage and punishment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual and ethical discipline is implied through śauca (purity) and karma (duty): maintaining purity rules and correct conduct—core to kalpa (ritual procedure) and dharma practice—reduces sinful outcomes.