Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

शिलावृष्टिः शस्त्रवृष्टिर्वह्निवृष्टिस्तथैव च । क्षारोदकं चोष्णतोयं तप्तायः पिण्डभक्षणम् ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

śilāvṛṣṭiḥ śastravṛṣṭirvahnivṛṣṭistathaiva ca | kṣārodakaṃ coṣṇatoyaṃ taptāyaḥ piṇḍabhakṣaṇam || 7 ||

Translation

وہاں پتھروں کی بارش، ہتھیاروں کی بارش اور آگ کی بارش بھی ہوتی ہے؛ کھارا پانی اور کھولتا ہوا گرم پانی (پلایا جاتا ہے)، اور دہکتے لوہے کے لوتھڑے کھانے پر مجبور کیا جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• śilā-vṛṣṭiḥ: stone-rain
• śilā-vṛṣṭiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘rain of stones’)

• śastra-vṛṣṭiḥ: weapon-rain
• śastra-vṛṣṭiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śastra (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘rain of weapons’)

• vahni-vṛṣṭiḥ: fire-rain
• vahni-vṛṣṭiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘rain of fire’)

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ (also/likewise)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• kṣāra-udakam: caustic/saline water
• kṣāra-udakam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣāra (प्रातिपदिक) + udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘alkaline/saline water’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• uṣṇa-toyam: hot water
• uṣṇa-toyam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + toya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘hot water’)

• tapta-ayaḥ: heated iron
• tapta-ayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √tap) + ayas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘heated iron’)

• piṇḍa-bhakṣaṇam: eating iron lumps/balls (torture)
• piṇḍa-bhakṣaṇam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘eating lumps/balls’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

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 starkly illustrates naraka-vedanā (hellish torments) as the karmic consequence of adharma, urging the listener to choose dharma, self-restraint, and purification rather than actions that mature into intense suffering.

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

By contrasting the terror of karmic retribution with the implied refuge of righteous living, it supports the Purāṇic bhakti framework: take shelter of Bhagavān through sincere devotion and dharmic conduct, reducing the pull of sinful tendencies that lead to such states.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it functions as dharma-śāstra style moral instruction—using vivid imagery to reinforce ethical restraint and avoidance of pāpa (sinful acts).