Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

अतिभीता विवश्त्राश्च शुष्ककंठौष्ठतालुकाः । क्रदंतो विस्तरं दीनाः पापिनो यांति तत्पथि ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

atibhītā vivaśtrāśca śuṣkakaṃṭhauṣṭhatālukāḥ | kradaṃto vistaraṃ dīnāḥ pāpino yāṃti tatpathi || 5 ||

Translation

他们极度恐惧，失去自持，喉咙、嘴唇与上腭干枯；罪人放声哀号，凄惨不堪，仍沿着那条道路前行。

Word by Word

• अतिभीताः: very frightened
• अतिभीताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + भीत (कृदन्त, √भी भये)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कृदन्तः—भूतकृदन्त/क्त (past passive participle) ‘भीत’ with उपसर्ग ‘अति’

• विवस्त्राः: naked, unclothed
• विवस्त्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि (उपसर्ग) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘विवस्त्र’ (without clothes)

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

• शुष्ककण्ठौष्ठतालुकाः: with dry throats, lips, and palates
• शुष्ककण्ठौष्ठतालुकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुष्क (प्रातिपदिक) + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + ओष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + तालु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय-प्रायः): ‘शुष्काः कण्ठ-ओष्ठ-तालवः येषाम्’ (having dry throat, lips, and palate)

• क्रदन्तः: crying, wailing
• क्रदन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्रन्द् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘क्रदन्त’ = ‘क्रन्दन्तः’ (weeping/crying)

• विस्तरम्: at length, loudly/fully
• विस्तरम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया-एकवचन (accusative used adverbially)

• दीनाः: wretched, miserable
• दीनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• पापिनः: sinners
• पापिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘पापिन्’ (sinful person)

• यान्ति: go, proceed
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• तत्पथि: on that path
• तत्पथि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग ‘पथिन्’ (irregular), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष: ‘तस्मिन् पथि’ = on that path

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Purva Bhaga dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It vividly portrays the psychological and bodily anguish that accompanies pāpa (sin) at death and beyond, reinforcing the Purana’s Dharma message: actions shape one’s post-death journey, and ethical living with purification is essential.

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

By contrasting the terror of the pāpī’s path, it implicitly elevates bhakti and dharmic conduct as refuges that remove fear and helplessness—core Narada Purana themes culminating in reliance on Vishnu-oriented devotion and righteous living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught in this shloka; the practical takeaway is applied Dharma—avoid pāpa through prescribed conduct, repentance (prāyaścitta), and disciplined observances (vrata) taught elsewhere in the Narada Purana.