Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

श्रोत्रियाणां द्विजानां तु हृत्वा हेमैवमाचरेत् । कृतानुतापो देहे च संपूर्णे लेपयेद् धृतम् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

śrotriyāṇāṃ dvijānāṃ tu hṛtvā hemaivamācaret | kṛtānutāpo dehe ca saṃpūrṇe lepayed dhṛtam || 40 ||

Translation

اگر کسی نے وید کے ماہر شروتریہ دِوِج برہمنوں سے سونا چرایا ہو تو مقررہ پرایَشچِتّ اسی طرح کرے؛ اور سچے پچھتاوے کے ساتھ پورے بدن پر گھرت (گھی) ملے۔

Word by Word

• श्रोत्रियाणाम्: from learned Vedic scholars
• श्रोत्रियाणाम्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (plural)

• द्विजानाम्: from Brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजानाम्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (plural)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक (contrast/emphasis)

• हृत्वा: having stolen/taken away
• हृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• हेम: gold
• हेम: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेमन्/हेम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• एवम्: thus/in this manner
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आचरेत्: should perform/practice
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद (parasmaipada)

• कृतानुतापः: one who has done repentance
• कृतानुतापः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत-अनुताप (प्रातिपदिक; कृत + अनुताप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (of the doer)

• देहे: on the body
• देहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• संपूर्णे: when fully (covered)/entire
• संपूर्णे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संपूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (of देहे)

• लेपयेत्: should smear/apply
• लेपयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद (parasmaipada), णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: 'cause to smear')

• धृतम्: ghee (clarified butter)
• धृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृत (प्रातिपदिक; धृ धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, past passive participle used as noun)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-prāyaścitta context; dialogue tradition with Sanatkumara is assumed for this section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: prāyaścitta for hiraṇya-steya (gold theft)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that offenses against śrotriya dvijas are grave and that purification requires both inner change (anutāpa, sincere remorse) and an outward, rule-based prāyaścitta to restore dharmic order.

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

While not directly a bhakti-verse, it supports bhakti indirectly by insisting on ethical purity and repentance—foundational qualities for sincere devotion and a clean conscience in worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa/Smārta ritual knowledge: a codified expiation procedure (prāyaścitta) with a specific bodily act (anointing with ghṛta) performed after acknowledging wrongdoing.