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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

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

द्वादशाब्दं व्रतं कुर्यादेवं हरिपरायणः । ब्रह्महा शुद्धिमाप्नोति कर्मार्हश्चैव जायते ॥ १२ ॥

dvādaśābdaṃ vrataṃ kuryādevaṃ hariparāyaṇaḥ | brahmahā śuddhimāpnoti karmārhaścaiva jāyate || 12 ||

یوں ہری پرایَن ہو کر وہ بارہ برس کا ورت کرے۔ برہمن کا قاتل بھی اس سے پاکیزگی پاتا ہے اور دوبارہ ویدک کرموں کا اہل بن جاتا ہے۔

द्वादशाब्दम्of twelve years
द्वादशाब्दम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootद्वादश + अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (द्वादश अब्दाः = द्वादशाब्दम्) विशेषण (qualifying व्रतम्)
व्रतम्vow
व्रतम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootव्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
कुर्यात्should do/undertake
कुर्यात्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√कृ (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
एवम्thus
एवम्:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)
हरिपरायणःone devoted to Hari
हरिपरायणः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootहरि + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (हरौ परायणः)
ब्रह्महाslayer of a brāhmaṇa
ब्रह्महा:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन् + हन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः हन्ता)
शुद्धिम्purification
शुद्धिम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootशुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
आप्नोतिattains
आप्नोति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootआ + √आप् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present Indicative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
कर्मार्हःfit/eligible for rites
कर्मार्हः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootकर्मन् + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कर्मणि अर्हः) विशेषण
and
:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)
एवindeed
एव:
Nipata (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)
जायतेbecomes/is born
जायते:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√जन् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present Indicative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Narada

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

H
Hari
V
Vishnu

FAQs

It teaches that sustained, disciplined devotion to Hari through a long-term vrata has transformative power—so strong that it is described as capable of purifying even the gravest sins and restoring spiritual and ritual integrity.

Bhakti here is not merely emotion but steadfast Hari-parāyaṇatā expressed through a structured vow over time; devotion, when made continuous and vow-bound, is presented as a means of inner purification and re-entry into dharmic life.

It highlights ritual eligibility (karma-arhatā) and the prāyaścitta framework: through prescribed vrata-dharma, one becomes fit again for Vedic karmas—showing the applied dharma-śāstra logic behind rites and expiations.