Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

The Anukramaṇikā (Contents-Outline) of the Vāmana Purāṇa

Devanagari script

हरस्य कालरूपाख्या कामस्य दहनं ततः । प्रह्लादनारायणयोर्युद्धं देवासुराहवः ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

harasya kālarūpākhyā kāmasya dahanaṃ tataḥ | prahlādanārāyaṇayoryuddhaṃ devāsurāhavaḥ || 4 ||

Translation

ثم يُوصَف هارا (شيفا) المعروف بصورة «كالَا» أي الزمان؛ ثم إحراق كاما؛ ثم معركة برهلادا مع نارايانا؛ ثم الحرب العظمى بين الديفا والآسورا.

Word by Word

• हरस्य: of Hara (Śiva)
• हरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• कालरूपाख्या: the appellation ‘Time-form’
• कालरूपाख्या: Karta (कर्ता/Topic as subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + रूप + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: कालरूपस्य आख्या (the designation ‘time-form’)

• कामस्य: of Kāma (Cupid)
• कामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दहनम्: burning (incineration)
• दहनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘then/thereafter’

• प्रह्लादनारायणयोः: of Prahlāda and Nārāyaṇa
• प्रह्लादनारायणयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद + नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचनरूप (Genitive/Locative Dual form -योः); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: प्रह्लादश्च नारायणश्च (of Prahlāda and Nārāyaṇa)

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देवासुराहवः: the gods-vs-demons war
• देवासुराहवः: Karta (कर्ता/Topic as subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + असुर + आहव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: देवासुरयोः आहवः (combat between gods and demons)

Speaker

Narada (summarizing contents to the Sanatkumara tradition in an anukramanika register)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Hara (Shiva)
• Kala (Time)
• Kama
• Prahlada
• Narayana
• Devas
• Asuras

FAQs

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

It functions as an anukramanika (contents-summary) pointing to major puranic episodes—Time as the supreme devourer, desire being burnt (Kāma-dahana), and cosmic conflict—framing dharma and devotion within the larger puranic worldview.

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

By highlighting Prahlāda and Nārāyaṇa, it signals the centrality of Vaiṣṇava bhakti narratives: steadfast devotion to Nārāyaṇa is presented as a defining puranic theme even amid conflicts and divine dramas.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this line; it is a catalog-like verse used for textual navigation (anukrama), helping readers locate narrative sections rather than detailing śikṣā, vyākaraṇa, or jyotiṣa practices.