Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 65

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

Devanagari script

मुशलोलूखलाभ्यां तु चूर्ण्यन्ते तस्करा भृशम् । तदन्ते तप्तपाषाणग्रहणं वत्सरत्रयम् ॥ ६५ ॥

Transliteration

muśalolūkhalābhyāṃ tu cūrṇyante taskarā bhṛśam | tadante taptapāṣāṇagrahaṇaṃ vatsaratrayam || 65 ||

Translation

چوروں کو موسل اور اوکھلی سے سختی کے ساتھ پیس کر چورا کر دیا جاتا ہے؛ پھر تین برس تک انہیں تپتے ہوئے پتھر پکڑنے پڑتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• muśala-olūkhala-ābhyām: with a pestle and a mortar
• muśala-olūkhala-ābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muśala (प्रातिपदिक) + olūkhala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन); समासः—द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात)

• cūrṇyante: are pulverized
• cūrṇyante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cūrṇ (चूर्ण् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्, Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); Ātmanepada, passive sense (कर्मणि प्रयोग)

• taskarāḥ: thieves
• taskarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taskara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhṛśam: severely
• bhṛśam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhṛśam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• tad-ante: thereafter
• tad-ante: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) used adverbially; 'thereafter/at its end'

• tapta-pāṣāṇa-grahaṇam: the taking/holding of heated stones
• tapta-pāṣāṇa-grahaṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapta (तप् धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय/कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + pāṣāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + grahaṇa (ग्रह् धातु; ल्युट्-प्रत्यय/कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुष: 'taptānāṃ pāṣāṇānāṃ grahaṇam'

• vatsara-trayam: for three years
• vatsara-trayam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vatsara (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); duration; समासः—द्विगु

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada Purana’s account of karmic consequences, in the style of a Purana dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It underscores the Purana’s dharma framework: theft (taskaratva) is treated as a grave violation of social and sacred order, and the verse uses stark naraka imagery to warn that pāpa inevitably ripens into intense suffering unless checked by repentance and righteous living.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti by urging moral purification: sincere devotion to Vishnu is traditionally paired with restraint from adharma like stealing; this verse highlights why a devotee should avoid pāpa that obstructs inner purity and spiritual progress.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily dharma-nīti (ethical discipline) rather than a specific Vedanga; as a practical takeaway, it reflects the broader smārta-paurāṇic principle that actions have predictable karmic results, guiding conduct and social order.