Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

एतेष्वन्यतमं विप्रो न पिबेद्वै कदाचन । एतेष्वन्यतमं यस्तु पिबेदज्ञानतो द्विजः ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

eteṣvanyatamaṃ vipro na pibedvai kadācana | eteṣvanyatamaṃ yastu pibedajñānato dvijaḥ || 32 ||

Translation

Ang isang brāhmaṇa ay hindi kailanman dapat uminom ng alinman sa mga ito. Ngunit kung ang isang dvija (dalawang ulit na isinilang) ay uminom ng alinman dito nang hindi nalalaman dahil sa kamangmangan, ang pag-aayuno at pagtubos-sala ay itatakda sa susunod.

Word by Word

• एतेषु: among these
• एतेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-रूप

• अन्यतमम्: any one (of these)
• अन्यतमम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्यतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'any one (of them)' as object

• विप्रः: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• पिबेत्: should drink
• पिबेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थ/खल्वर्थ (emphatic particle)

• कदाचन: ever; at any time
• कदाचन: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (at any time/ever)

• एतेषु: among these
• एतेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• अन्यतमम्: any one (of these)
• अन्यतमम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्यतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पक्षान्तर/विरोधसूचक

• पिबेत्: should drink
• पिबेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अज्ञानतः: unknowingly; out of ignorance
• अज्ञानतः: हेतु (Hetu/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अज्ञानतः (अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थे (ablatival adverb: 'from ignorance/unknowingly')

• द्विजः: a twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• द्विजः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on Dharma and expiations)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana
• Dvija

FAQs

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

It underscores dharma as self-restraint: purity of conduct is essential for a dvija, and even accidental transgressions are taken seriously, requiring conscious correction through prescribed expiation.

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

While this verse is primarily dharma-based, it supports bhakti indirectly by insisting on disciplined living; purity and restraint are presented as supportive conditions for steady worship and remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual law) is implied: the verse points to rule-based conduct and the framework of prāyaścitta (expiatory procedure) that is elaborated through dharma-śāstra style injunctions.