Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Hari-nāma Mahimā and Caraṇāmṛta: The Redemption of the Hunter Gulika

Uttaṅka Itihāsa

Devanagari script

तेन पापान्यनेकानि कृतानि सुमहांति च । न तेषां शक्यते वक्तुं संख्या वत्सरकोटिभिः ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

tena pāpānyanekāni kṛtāni sumahāṃti ca | na teṣāṃ śakyate vaktuṃ saṃkhyā vatsarakoṭibhiḥ || 22 ||

Translation

اس برتاؤ سے بے شمار، نہایت عظیم گناہ سرزد ہوئے؛ ان کی تعداد کروڑوں برسوں میں بھی بیان نہیں کی جا سکتی۔

Word by Word

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन (singular)

• पापानि: sins
• पापानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• अनेकानि: many
• अनेकानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (qualifier) of पापानि

• कृतानि: done/committed
• कृतानि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे (passive sense)

• सुमहानि: very great
• सुमहानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु- (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + महान् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of पापानि; सु- intensifier (very)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• तेषाम्: of them (of those sins)
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन (plural)

• शक्यते: is possible
• शक्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (impersonal passive sense): “is possible”

• वक्तुम्: to tell/say
• वक्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitive complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्ययवत् (indeclinable verbal)

• संख्या: the number/count
• संख्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• वत्सरकोटिभिः: by crores of years
• वत्सरकोटिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्सर (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): वत्सराणां कोटयः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (कोटि), तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन (plural)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada, contextual attribution within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It stresses that sinful karma can accumulate beyond ordinary calculation, urging urgency for repentance, self-restraint, and a turn toward dharma and purification.

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

By highlighting the overwhelming weight of pāpa, it indirectly points to taking refuge in sustained devotional life—humility, remembrance, and surrender—as a transformative remedy alongside righteous conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this line; the practical takeaway is ethical vigilance and the need for appropriate prayāścitta as guided by dharma-śāstra (Kalpa contextually).