Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73

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

Devanagari script

तत्पायःपुरुशास्तास्तु तत्पायःशयनेबलात् । पातयित्वा रमन्ते च बहुकालं बलान्विताः ॥ ७३ ॥

Transliteration

tatpāyaḥpuruśāstāstu tatpāyaḥśayanebalāt | pātayitvā ramante ca bahukālaṃ balānvitāḥ || 73 ||

Translation

وہ مرد اسی جبرِ قوت کے زیرِ حکم ہو کر اسی بستر میں مغلوب ہو جاتے ہیں؛ اور دوسروں کو گرا کر، اپنی قوت سے تقویت پا کر مدتِ دراز تک عیش و کھیل کرتے رہتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• tat: that/then
• tat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adverbially ‘then/that’

• pāyaḥ: milk/curdled milk (pāyas)
• pāyaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• puruṣāḥ: men/persons
• puruṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tāstāḥ: those (women)
• tāstāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Avyaya (अव्यय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) expressing contrast/emphasis

• tat: there/in that (place)
• tat: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन) used as ‘there/therein’ (contextual)

• pāyaḥ: of milk/pāyas
• pāyaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन) (contextual: ‘of milk/pāyas’)

• śayane: on the bed/lying-place
• śayane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• balāt: by force/forcibly
• balāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially

• pātayitvā: having thrown down
• pātayitvā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pat (धातु) + ṇic (णिच्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), causative sense: ‘having caused to fall’

• ramante: they enjoy/sport
• ramante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ram (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Avyaya (अव्यय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• bahu-kālam: for a long time
• bahu-kālam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially; accusative-form functioning as adverb of duration

• bala-anvitāḥ: endowed with strength
• bala-anvitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of puruṣāḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘endowed with strength’

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (in dialogue with Nārada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It cautions that uncontrolled impulse (kāma) turns into compulsion, leading to moral and spiritual downfall; true strength is restraint, not domination.

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

By highlighting the dangers of being driven by desire, it indirectly points to bhakti as a purifying discipline—redirecting the mind from compulsion toward devotion and inner mastery.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily dharma-śikṣā (ethical instruction) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; the takeaway is practical restraint and right conduct as foundational discipline for higher study and worship.