Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

हत्वा त्वनुपनीतांश्च तथा पादव्रतं चरेत् । हत्वा तु क्षत्रियं विप्रः षडब्दं कुच्छ्रमाचरेत् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

hatvā tvanupanītāṃśca tathā pādavrataṃ caret | hatvā tu kṣatriyaṃ vipraḥ ṣaḍabdaṃ kucchramācaret || 20 ||

Translation

若杀害尚未受入门礼（upanayana）者，应修行“足分誓”（pāda-vrata）以作忏悔。若婆罗门（brāhmaṇa）杀害刹帝利（kṣatriya），则当行 kṛcchra 苦行六年。

Word by Word

• हत्वा: having killed
• हत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययभाव (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• अनुपनीतान्: those not initiated (uninvested)
• अनुपनीतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुपनीत (प्रातिपदिक; उप-नी धातु से क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेष्य (persons not invested with sacred thread)

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

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• पाद-व्रतम्: the pāda-vrata (a penance of a quarter measure)
• पाद-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (पादस्य व्रतम्/पादमात्रं व्रतम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चरेत्: should practice/perform
• चरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• हत्वा: having killed
• हत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययभाव (absolutive)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• क्षत्रियम्: a Kshatriya
• क्षत्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विप्रः: a Brahmin (man)
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• षडब्दम्: for six years
• षडब्दम्: Kaaladhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्या) + अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु समास (षड् अब्दाः यस्य/षडब्दम् = six years), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (कालपरिमाण)

• कुच्छ्रम्: the kucchra penance
• कुच्छ्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रायश्चित्तविशेष

• आचरेत्: should undertake/practice
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Nārada (teaching prāyaścitta norms within dharma instruction)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: pāda-vrata; kṛcchra

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It frames prāyaścitta as a dhārmic means to acknowledge wrongdoing, restrain the senses through vrata/austerity, and restore moral-spiritual order after a grave transgression.

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

Indirectly: by prescribing purification through vrata and disciplined living, it supports inner purity (śuddhi) that is considered foundational for steady worship and devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual discipline) is implied—specifically the regulation of vows (vrata) and penances (kṛcchra) as part of dharma-oriented ritual procedure.