Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

The Anukramaṇī (Summary/Index) of the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa

Devanagari script

पूर्वजन्मकथा चैषां विक्रिया चा दिवस्पतेः । तीर्थयात्रा बलस्याथ द्रौपदेयकथानकम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

pūrvajanmakathā caiṣāṃ vikriyā cā divaspateḥ | tīrthayātrā balasyātha draupadeyakathānakam || 4 ||

Translation

وكذلك تُروى حكايةُ ولاداتهم السابقة، والتحوّل العجيب لسيّد النهار (الشمس)؛ ثم تُذكر رحلةُ الحجّ إلى التيـرثات لبالا (بالاراما)، ثم قصةُ أبناء دروبدي.

Word by Word

• pūrva-janma-kathā: the story of the former birth
• pūrva-janma-kathā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + janman (प्रातिपदिक) + kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• eṣām: of these (beings)
• eṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vikriyā: the transformation/change
• vikriyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• divaspateḥ: of the lord of heaven (Sun/Indra)
• divaspateḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divaspati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• tīrtha-yātrā: the pilgrimage to sacred places
• tīrtha-yātrā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + yātrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• balasya: of Bala
• balasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• atha: then/and next
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; sequence marker (अनन्तरार्थक)

• draupadeya-kathānakam: the tale of the sons of Draupadī
• draupadeya-kathānakam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: draupadeya (प्रातिपदिक) + kathānaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) summarizing the forthcoming topics in the Narada Purana’s anukramaṇikā-style listing

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Divaspati)
• Balarama (Bala)
• Draupadi
• Draupadeya (sons of Draupadi)

FAQs

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

It functions as an anukramaṇikā (table-of-contents) verse, signaling that the Purāṇa will teach dharma through karmic continuity (previous-birth stories), divine portents (the Sun’s transformation), and merit-bearing practices like tīrtha-yātrā.

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

Indirectly: by highlighting kathā (sacred narrative) and tīrtha-yātrā as traditional supports for bhakti—hearing and remembering divine-linked histories and visiting holy places to deepen devotion and purify intention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is not a Vedāṅga teaching itself; however, it points to purāṇic organization and śāstra-method (anukramaṇikā), and it references the Sun (Divaspati), a common anchor for jyotiṣa-oriented calendrical and ritual timing in Vedic practice.