Shloka 68

Puruṣottama-māhātmya

The Greatness of Puruṣottama Kṣetra

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मह्त्या प्रमुच्येत पापेष्वन्येषु का कथा । प्रदक्षिणं कृतं यैस्तु नमस्कारैस्तु जंतुभिः ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

brahmahtyā pramucyeta pāpeṣvanyeṣu kā kathā | pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtaṃ yaistu namaskāraistu jaṃtubhiḥ || 68 ||

Translation

แม้บาปหนักอย่างพราหมณ์ฆาต (brahmahatyā) ก็หลุดพ้นได้แก่สรรพชีวิตผู้เวียนขวา (pradakṣiṇā) พร้อมนอบน้อมกราบไหว้ (namaskāra) แล้วบาปอื่น ๆ จะกล่าวไปไย

Word by Word

• brahma-hatyā: brahmin-slaying (sin)
• brahma-hatyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + hatyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'killing of a brāhmaṇa'

• pramucyeta: would be freed/released
• pramucyeta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√muc (मुच् धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); passive sense possible 'is released'

• pāpeṣu: in sins
• pāpeṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• anyeṣu: other
• anyeṣu: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying pāpeṣu

• kā: what?
• kā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun (प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kathā: talk/mention
• kathā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• pradakṣiṇam: circumambulation
• pradakṣiṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṛtam: done
• kṛtam: Kriya (क्रिया-विशेषण/भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु) (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past participle (कृत्: क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with pradakṣiṇam

• yaiḥ: by whom
• yaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (यद्), Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (विरोध/अन्वय-अव्यय)

• namaskāraiḥ: with salutations
• namaskāraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: namaskāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (पादपूरण/अन्वय-अव्यय)

• jantu-bhiḥ: by beings/creatures
• jantu-bhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jantu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a Tirtha-Mahatmya context of Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"Astonishment at the power of simple acts (pradakṣiṇā and namaskāra) culminating in calm confidence that even grave sin is removed."}

FAQs

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

It elevates simple devotional body-practices—pradakṣiṇā and namaskāra—as powerful purifying acts, stating that even the gravest sin is mitigated by sincere reverence, especially in a Tīrtha/temple context.

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

Bhakti is shown as accessible through embodied humility: circling the sacred with the right side facing it and offering prostrations. The emphasis is on devotion expressed through respectful ritual action rather than mere theory.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (Kalpa/Smārta-ācāra) is implied: correct performance of pradakṣiṇā and namaskāra as prescribed acts of dharma and prayāścitta (expiation) in sacred settings.