Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

The Exposition of the Table of Contents (Anukramaṇī) of the Agni Purāṇa

Devanagari script

तत्पंचदशसाहस्रं नाना चरितमद्भुतम् । पठतां श्रृण्वतां चैव सर्वपापहरं नृणाम् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

tatpaṃcadaśasāhasraṃ nānā caritamadbhutam | paṭhatāṃ śrṛṇvatāṃ caiva sarvapāpaharaṃ nṛṇām || 2 ||

Translation

ذلك البورانا يضم خمسة عشر ألف بيت، وفيه حكايات عجيبة شتّى؛ وهو يمحو عن الناس جميع الآثام لمن يتلوه ولمن يصغي إليه كذلك.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• पञ्चदशसाहस्रम्: (a text) of fifteen thousand (verses)
• पञ्चदशसाहस्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चदश + साहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—पञ्चदश सहस्राणि यस्य/परिमाणम् (द्विगु-समासः)

• नाना: various
• नाना: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: variously)

• चरितम्: deeds/episodes
• चरितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (कृदन्त; चर्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used as noun)

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful
• अद्भुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• पठताम्: of those who recite/read
• पठताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय; present active participle), षष्ठी-बहुवचन (6th/Genitive plural) रूपेण प्रयुक्तम्; ‘of those who read’

• शृण्वताम्: of those who listen
• शृण्वताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय; present active participle), षष्ठी-बहुवचन (6th/Genitive plural) रूपेण प्रयुक्तम्; ‘of those who listen’

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/indeed)

• सर्वपापहरम्: remover of all sins
• सर्वपापहरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + पाप + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—सर्वेषां पापानां हरः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• नृणाम्: of men/people
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada (describing the Purana’s extent and fruit of hearing/recitation in the Anukramanika-style summary)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It states the Purāṇa’s scope (15,000 verses) and emphasizes a core Purāṇic doctrine: sincere recitation and attentive listening to sacred narration function as sarvapāpahara—removing the burden of sin and cultivating merit.

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

By praising śravaṇa (hearing) and pāṭha (recitation), it points to bhakti-practices centered on sacred names and divine narratives—devotion grows through repeated hearing/reciting of wondrous līlā and dharma-kathā.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Direct Vedāṅga instruction is not the focus; the practical takeaway is disciplined oral transmission—accurate recitation (linked with śikṣā/pronunciation) and attentive listening as a dharmic method of study.