Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 103

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release

Devanagari script

धर्मात्पापानि नश्यन्ति ज्ञानं शुद्धं च जायते । धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां ये फलान्यभिलिप्सवः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

dharmātpāpāni naśyanti jñānaṃ śuddhaṃ ca jāyate | dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇāṃ ye phalānyabhilipsavaḥ || 3 ||

Translation

凭借正法（dharma），罪业消灭，清净智慧生起。凡希求正法之果——财富（artha）、欲乐（kāma）与解脱（mokṣa）者，当依止正法。

Word by Word

• धर्मात्: from dharma
• धर्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• पापानि: sins
• पापानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• नश्यन्ति: perish
• नश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• शुद्धम्: pure
• शुद्धम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) ज्ञानम्-विशेषण

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

• जायते: arises/is born
• जायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणाम्: of dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa
• धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + अर्थ + काम + मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-समास (enumerative)

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• फलानि: fruits/results
• फलानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन

• अभिलिप्सवः: desirous of obtaining
• अभिलिप्सवः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-लिप्सु (प्रातिपदिक; desiderative agent-noun)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) ये-विशेषण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the dialogue on dharma and true knowledge)

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 states that dharma is not merely social duty—it is a purifying force that burns pāpa and gives rise to śuddha-jñāna, the inner clarity needed for liberation.

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

By emphasizing purification and the rise of pure knowledge, it supports bhakti indirectly: a dharmic life cleanses obstacles (pāpa) so devotion can become steady and informed, culminating in mokṣa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights the practical dharma-principle behind ritual life: actions aligned with dharma purify the doer and refine understanding—an underlying aim of Vedic rites and their disciplined performance.