Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy

Devanagari script

तप्तायः शयनं चैव ह्ययोभारस्य बन्धनम् । एवमाद्यामहाभाग यातनाः कोटिकोटिशः ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

taptāyaḥ śayanaṃ caiva hyayobhārasya bandhanam | evamādyāmahābhāga yātanāḥ koṭikoṭiśaḥ || 20 ||

Translation

躺在烧红的铁床上，被铁的重负捆绑——噢，伟大的灵魂啊，如此这般数以亿计的折磨层出不穷。

Word by Word

• तप्त-अयः-शयनम्: lying on heated iron
• तप्त-अयः-शयनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्त (कृदन्त; √तप् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय) + अयस्/अयः (प्रातिपदिक) + शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (तप्तं अयः तस्मिन्/तस्य शयनम् = lying on heated iron)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ-निपात (particle: for/indeed)

• अयः-भारस्य: of the weight/load of iron
• अयः-भारस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयस्/अयः (प्रातिपदिक) + भार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine) ‘भार’, षष्ठी (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (अयसो भारः)

• बन्धनम्: binding, fastening
• बन्धनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक; √बन्ध् धातु से)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘thus’)

• आद्याः: beginning (with these), first
• आद्याः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (qualifying ‘यातनाः’)

• महा-भाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महा-भाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महान् भागः यस्य/हे महाभाग)

• यातनाः: tortures, punishments
• यातनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यातना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कोटि-कोटि-शः: in crores upon crores (innumerably)
• कोटि-कोटि-शः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + शस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, परिमाण/प्रकारवाचक (adverbial): ‘in crores upon crores’

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada in dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It stresses karma-phala: sinful actions mature into intense suffering, prompting a dharmic life and sincere repentance so the mind turns toward liberation rather than repeated pain.

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

By vividly portraying the consequences of adharma, it creates vairāgya (dispassion) and urgency—conditions that traditionally lead seekers to take refuge in Bhagavān (especially Viṣṇu) through bhakti and right conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline (dharma) and avoidance of pāpa, which underlies effective ritual life and any prayāścitta prescribed in śāstra.