Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

ततस्तैर्योषितो मुक्ता हुताशनसमोज्ज्वलम् । यः स्तम्भं समाश्लिष्य तिष्ठन्त्यब्दसहस्त्रकम् ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

tatastairyoṣito muktā hutāśanasamojjvalam | yaḥ stambhaṃ samāśliṣya tiṣṭhantyabdasahastrakam || 74 ||

Translation

پھر اُن کے ہاتھوں وہ عورتیں آزاد کی گئیں؛ اور آگ کی مانند روشن ایک ستون سے لپٹ کر وہ ایک ہزار برس تک وہیں کھڑی رہیں۔

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Avyaya (अव्यय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय) of sequence

• taiḥ: by them
• taiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yoṣitaḥ: women
• yoṣitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन) (Vedic/epic variant ending)

• muktāḥ: released/freed
• muktāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of yoṣitaḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √muc)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); past passive participle used adjectivally

• hutāśana-sama-ujjvalam: shining like fire
• hutāśana-sama-ujjvalam: Karma (कर्म) (object/descriptor of stambham)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hutāśana (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक) + ujjvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘bright like fire’ (upamā-based)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• stambham: pillar/post
• stambham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stambha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• samāśliṣya: having embraced/clung to
• samāśliṣya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śliṣ (धातु) + sam- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्)

• tiṣṭhanti: they stand/remain
• tiṣṭhanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• abda-sahasrakam: a thousand years
• abda-sahasrakam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abda (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + ka (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); measure of time used adverbially

Speaker

Suta

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Hutashana (Agni)

FAQs

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

It portrays the intensity of tapas (austerity) and the long duration of karmic consequence—remaining bound to a fiery, radiant pillar for a thousand years—highlighting how actions can lead to prolonged states of suffering or penance until release is earned.

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

By showing a severe, fearsome form of endurance tied to karma and punishment, the verse indirectly contrasts such harsh penance with the Narada Purana’s broader emphasis that devotion and surrender (bhakti) offer a more direct, purifying path than merely undergoing painful austerities.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual vocabulary connected to Agni (hutāśana) is foregrounded, reflecting the sacrificial/ritual worldview (yajña context) rather than a technical Vedanga lesson; the key takeaway is the symbolic role of fire in purification, punishment, and ritual discipline.