Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma

Devanagari script

आहूय पापिनश्चैव कालदंडेन तर्जयेत् । प्रलयांबुदनिर्घोषो ह्यंजनाद्रिसमप्रभः ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

āhūya pāpinaścaiva kāladaṃḍena tarjayet | pralayāṃbudanirghoṣo hyaṃjanādrisamaprabhaḥ || 40 ||

Translation

他召唤诸罪人，以“时劫之杖”威吓并惩戒。其吼声如宇宙大劫溃灭时云雷轰鸣，其光辉如阿阇那山般炽盛。

Word by Word

• आहूय: having summoned
• आहूय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-हू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: आह्वानार्थक ‘आ-हू’; ‘having called/summoned’

• पापिनः: the sinners
• पापिनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• कालदण्डेन: with the rod of Time (punishment)
• कालदण्डेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल-दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: कालस्य दण्डः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• तर्जयेत्: should threaten/terrify
• तर्जयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रलयाम्बुदनिर्घोषः: having a roar like the clouds at dissolution
• प्रलयाम्बुदनिर्घोषः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रलय-अम्बुद-निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास (निर्घोषः प्रलयाम्बुदस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• अञ्जनाद्रिसमप्रभः: having a radiance like the Anjana mountain
• अञ्जनाद्रिसमप्रभः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अञ्जन-अद्रि-सम-प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (समप्रभः = अञ्जनाद्रिसदृशी प्रभा यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (in dialogue with Nārada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Kāla (Time)
• Daṇḍa (rod of punishment)
• Pralaya (cosmic dissolution)
• Añjanādri (Añjana mountain)

FAQs

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

It stresses the inevitability of karmic consequence: sinners are summoned and confronted by the authority of Kāla (Time), whose “rod” symbolizes inescapable moral reckoning.

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

By highlighting the terror of karmic chastisement, it implicitly urges refuge in dharma and devotion—turning toward Bhagavān and righteous conduct to avoid the fate of the pāpī (sinner).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline (dharma) and awareness of karmic law, a foundational principle supporting ritual and spiritual practice.