Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

तद्वृत्तीनां भिदाख्यानं शालग्रामनिरूपणम् । भारकस्य वधोपायो वृक्षाचामहिमा तथा ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

tadvṛttīnāṃ bhidākhyānaṃ śālagrāmanirūpaṇam | bhārakasya vadhopāyo vṛkṣācāmahimā tathā || 64 ||

Translation

ويشتمل كذلك على بيان الفروق بين تلك الروايات، ووصف الشالاغراما (Śālagrāma) حجر فيشنو المقدّس، وطريقة القضاء على بهاراكا، وكذلك عظمة طقس الآتشامانا (ācamana) أي ارتشاف الماء للتطهير.

Word by Word

• तद्-वृत्तीनाम्: of those practices/occurrences
• तद्-वृत्तीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen), बहुवचन

• भिदा-आख्यानम्: the account of the division/difference
• भिदा-आख्यानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिदा (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शालग्राम-निरूपणम्: the description of the Shalagrama (stone)
• शालग्राम-निरूपणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम + निरूपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भारकस्य: of Bhāraka
• भारकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वध-उपायः: the means of killing
• वध-उपायः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध + उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वृक्ष-अच-महिमा: the greatness of Vṛkṣāca
• वृक्ष-अच-महिमा: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष + अच (प्रातिपदिक) + महिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/सादृश्यवाचक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Anukramanika/contents of the Narada Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shalagrama
• Bharaka

FAQs

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

This verse functions as an Anukramanika (table-of-contents) marker, highlighting that the Purana teaches both devotion-centered sacred objects (Śālagrāma of Viṣṇu) and dharmic purity disciplines (ācamana), alongside narrative exempla (the episode of Bhāraka).

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

By explicitly naming Śālagrāma-nirūpaṇa, it points to Viṣṇu-upāsanā through a tangible sacred emblem central to Vaiṣṇava bhakti—worship, reverence, and daily devotional practice anchored in dharmic conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical ritual discipline of ācamana (purificatory sipping of water) is indicated—an applied dharma/kalpa-style procedure used before japa, pūjā, and other rites, emphasizing correctness and purity in practice.