Shloka 37

The Liberation of the Lizard

Godhā-vimukti

Devanagari script

सूक्ष्माणि तिलमात्राणि कृत्वा खण्डान्यनेकशः । किंचित्पातकशेषेण धरायामवतारिता ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

sūkṣmāṇi tilamātrāṇi kṛtvā khaṇḍānyanekaśaḥ | kiṃcitpātakaśeṣeṇa dharāyāmavatāritā || 37 ||

Translation

Bị nghiền vỡ thành vô số mảnh cực nhỏ, mỗi mảnh chỉ bằng hạt mè, nó được đưa xuống cõi đất—vẫn còn vương lại một chút dư tội.

Word by Word

• sūkṣmāṇi: tiny
• sūkṣmāṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifying tilamātrāṇi

• tila-mātrāṇi: sesame-seed-sized (pieces)
• tila-mātrāṇi: Karma (कर्म) of kṛtvā (object made)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; samāsa: tilasya mātram (tatpuruṣa) = ‘sesame-seed measure’

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ktvānta/क्त्वान्त), ‘having done/made’

• khaṇḍāni: pieces, fragments
• khaṇḍāni: Karma (कर्म) (object: pieces)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• anekaśaḥ: many times, repeatedly
• anekaśaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anekaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (kriyāviśeṣaṇa) ‘in many ways/many times’

• kiṃcit-pātaka-śeṣeṇa: by a small remainder of sin
• kiṃcit-pātaka-śeṣeṇa: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiṃcit (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + pātaka (प्रातिपदिक) + śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; samāsa: pātakasya śeṣaḥ (ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa) with kiṃcit as qualifier; instrumental of cause

• dharāyām: on the earth
• dharāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• avatāritā: was brought down (incarnated)
• avatāritā: Kriyā (क्रिया) / predicate
• Type: Verb
• Root: avatārita (कृदन्त; √tṝ/√tar? causative of ava-√tṝ/√tṝ ‘to bring down’; standard: ava-√tṝ ‘to cause to descend’)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bhūta-kṛdanta (past passive participle) ‘made to descend/brought down’

Speaker

Suta (narrating Narada Purana account; dialogue context traditionally linked to Narada’s teachings)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Dharā (Earth)

FAQs

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

It conveys that even after a divine or sacred descent and fragmentation into minute parts, a subtle trace of karmic impurity (pātaka-śeṣa) may remain—highlighting the Purāṇic emphasis on purification through dharma, tirtha, and expiation.

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

By stressing residual impurity and the need for purification, it indirectly supports bhakti as a cleansing discipline: devotion combined with right conduct and sacred observances removes even subtle karmic remnants.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily reflects prayāścitta-dharma (expiatory discipline) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it points to ritual purity frameworks used in Dharmaśāstra practice (e.g., graded removal of pāpa and its residual effects).