Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

Maṅgalācaraṇa, Naimiṣāraṇya-Sabhā, Sūta-Āhvāna, and Narada Purāṇa-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

पठित्वा मुच्यते सद्यो महापातकराशिभिः । सतामेव प्रवक्तव्यं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं यतः ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

paṭhitvā mucyate sadyo mahāpātakarāśibhiḥ | satāmeva pravaktavyaṃ guhyādguhyataraṃ yataḥ || 47 ||

Translation

诵读此文，便能立刻从重罪之堆中解脱。因此只应向贤善之人宣说，因为它比秘密更为隐密。

Word by Word

• पठित्वा: having recited
• पठित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having read/recited’

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (time adverb)

• महा-पातक-राशिभिः: by heaps of great sins
• महा-पातक-राशिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + पातक (प्रातिपदिक) + राशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (महापातकानां राशयः)

• सताम्: of the good (people)
• सताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• प्रवक्तव्यम्: should be taught/spoken
• प्रवक्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be spoken/taught’ (gerundive)

• गुह्यात्: than a secret
• गुह्यात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (ablative), एकवचन

• गुह्यतरम्: more secret
• गुह्यतरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्यतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तर्तम-प्रत्यय (comparative)

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (causal indeclinable: ‘because/for’)

Speaker

Narada (in the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It declares the extraordinary purifying power of scriptural pāṭha: sincere reading/recitation can immediately cleanse even accumulated mahāpātakas, emphasizing śāstra as a direct means of inner purification and upliftment.

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

By stressing reading/recitation as liberating, it supports bhakti practices like śravaṇa and pāṭha—devotional engagement with sacred teaching—while also insisting on adhikāra (fitness), meaning the teaching is best preserved and shared among the virtuous.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the discipline of pāṭha (correct recitation/reading), which connects practically with Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar) for accurate transmission—especially important because the text is described as highly confidential (guhyatara).