Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

पुराणार्थविदे सोऽथ स्वर्गलोके महीयते । एषानुक्रमणी प्रोक्ता तवाग्नेयस्य मुक्तिदा ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

purāṇārthavide so'tha svargaloke mahīyate | eṣānukramaṇī proktā tavāgneyasya muktidā || 24 ||

Translation

ومن عرف حقًّا معاني البورانات عُظِّم في عالم السماء. وهكذا أُعلنت لك هذه «الأنوكرامَني» (الخلاصة المرتبة) لبوراناك الآغنيَية—وهي مانحة للتحرر (موكشا).

Word by Word

• पुराण-अर्थ-विदे: to the knower of the Purāṇa’s meaning
• पुराण-अर्थ-विदे: सम्प्रदान (Dative/recipient/beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु) + इन्/विद्-प्रातिपदिक (विद्/विद्-शब्द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: 'of Purāṇa' + 'meaning' + 'knower')

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/अनुक्रम (discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), अनुक्रम/आरम्भ (then/now)

• स्वर्ग-लोके: in the heavenly world
• स्वर्ग-लोके: अधिकरण (Locative/स्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'of heaven' + 'world')

• महीयते: is honored; is glorified
• महीयते: क्रिया (verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (is honored/is glorified)

• एषा: this
• एषा: विशेषण (adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of 'अनुक्रमणी')

• अनुक्रमणी: table of contents; index
• अनुक्रमणी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject of 'proktā')
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुक्रमणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रोक्ता: has been declared
• प्रोक्ता: क्रिया (verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र- वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन; 'has been spoken/proclaimed' (agreeing with अनुक्रमणी)

• तव: your
• तव: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• आग्नेयस्य: of the Agneya (Purāṇa)
• आग्नेयस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आग्नेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of implied 'पुराणस्य')

• मुक्ति-दा: granting liberation
• मुक्ति-दा: विशेषण (adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + दा (धातु) → द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'giver of liberation'); अनुक्रमणी-विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada in the anukramaṇī context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Agneya Purana
• Svarga

FAQs

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

It teaches that grasping the true purport of the Purāṇas is spiritually meritorious, bringing honor in Svarga, and that even a structured synopsis (anukramaṇī) of a Purāṇa can function as a liberation-giving teaching when properly understood.

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

By valuing the ‘meaning’ (artha) of Purāṇic teaching over mere recitation, it aligns with bhakti grounded in right understanding—where hearing and studying summaries of sacred texts supports steady devotion and ultimately mokṣa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the methodical, structured transmission of knowledge—an anukramaṇī (index/synopsis) that organizes a text for study, recall, and teaching, supporting disciplined śāstra-learning rather than ritual detail.