Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Yajñamālī–Sumālī Upākhyāna: Merit-Transfer through Temple Plastering (Lepa) and the Redemption of a Sinner

Devanagari script

यज्ञमाली ह्यमेयात्मा पौरान्संप्रार्थ्य दुःखितः । बंधनान्मोचयामास भ्रातृस्नेहविमोहितः ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

yajñamālī hyameyātmā paurānsaṃprārthya duḥkhitaḥ | baṃdhanānmocayāmāsa bhrātṛsnehavimohitaḥ || 10 ||

Translation

یَجْنَمالی—اگرچہ بےپایاں ہمت والا تھا—غمگین ہو کر شہریوں سے عاجزانہ درخواست کرتا رہا؛ بھائی کی محبت کے فریب میں انہیں بندھن سے چھڑا دیا۔

Word by Word

• यज्ञमाली: Yajñamālī (name)
• यज्ञमाली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञमालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• अमेय-आत्मा: one of immeasurable nature
• अमेय-आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमेय (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (immeasurable + self)

• पौरान्: the citizens
• पौरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• सम्-प्रार्थ्य: having implored
• सम्-प्रार्थ्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्रार्थ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having earnestly requested/begged’

• दुःखितः: distressed
• दुःखितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःखित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; दुःख+इत/क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भावविशेषण (state: distressed)

• बन्धनात्: from bondage/imprisonment
• बन्धनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• मोचयामास: released/set free
• मोचयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु) [णिच् causative: मोचय]
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• भ्रातृ-स्नेह-विमोहितः: bewildered by brotherly affection
• भ्रातृ-स्नेह-विमोहितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक) + विमोहित (कृदन्त; वि+मुह्+क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (deluded due to brotherly affection)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration; traditionally Sūta reporting the discourse context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Yajñamālī
• Paurāḥ (townspeople)
• Brother (bhrātṛ)

FAQs

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

It highlights how powerful attachment (sneha) can cloud discernment (viveka): even a noble person may act from sorrow and delusion, showing the need for clarity and dharma-guided decision-making.

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

By implication, it contrasts human attachment with steadiness of heart; bhakti matures when love is purified from possessiveness and delusion, becoming aligned with dharma and surrender rather than emotional compulsion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No direct Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) instruction appears; the practical takeaway is ethical discernment—acting responsibly rather than being driven by moha and familial bias.