Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

त्रसरेणुप्रमाणं तु रज इत्युच्यते बुधैः । त्रसरेण्वष्टकं निष्कस्तत्रयं राजसर्षपः ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

trasareṇupramāṇaṃ tu raja ityucyate budhaiḥ | trasareṇvaṣṭakaṃ niṣkastatrayaṃ rājasarṣapaḥ || 36 ||

Translation

Ipinahahayag ng mga pantas na ang sukat na nasusukat sa trasareṇu ay tinatawag na “rajas,” isang napakapinong butil ng alikabok. Walong trasareṇu ang bumubuo ng isang niṣka, at tatlong niṣka ang bumubuo ng isang rāja-sarṣapa, sukat na gaya ng “maharlikang” butil ng mustasa.

Word by Word

• त्रसरेणु: trasareṇu (minute mote)
• त्रसरेणु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रसरेणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रातिपदिक (in compound); अर्थः—minute particle (trasareṇu)

• प्रमाणम्: measure
• प्रमाणम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विशेषार्थ (emphasis)

• रजः: dust (unit called rajas)
• रजः: Pratijñā/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक-अव्यय (quotative)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• बुधैः: by the wise
• बुधैः: Karana (करण/agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• त्रसरेणु: trasareṇu
• त्रसरेणु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रसरेणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (in compound)

• अष्टकम्: a set of eight (trasareṇus)
• अष्टकम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); समासः—त्रसरेणूनाम् अष्टकम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• निष्कः: a niṣka (unit/coin)
• निष्कः: Pratijñā/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (in compound), संकेतार्थ (that)

• त्रयम्: three (of those)
• त्रयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—elliptic 'is')
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• राजसर्षपः: a royal mustard-seed (unit)
• राजसर्षपः: Pratijñā/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजसर्षप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); समासः—राज्ञः सर्षपः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/vedāṅga-style enumeration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

By defining extremely subtle units (trasareṇu, rajas), the text trains precision and discipline in dharma—showing that ritual order and cosmic order are mirrored in exact standards.

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

It does not teach bhakti directly; rather, it supports devotional practice indirectly by standardizing measures used in offerings and observances, helping worship be performed correctly and consistently.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Technical knowledge akin to Vedāṅga applications in ritual practice—traditional metrology (systems of fine measures) used to specify substances and quantities for rites and dharmic procedures.