Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

The Description of the Glory of the Purāṇa

Purāṇa-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

कृतं युगं सामवेदो धेनुर्विप्रोऽन्नमंबु च । मार्गो मृगेंद्रः पुरुषोऽश्वत्थः प्रह्लाद आननम् ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

kṛtaṃ yugaṃ sāmavedo dhenurvipro'nnamaṃbu ca | mārgo mṛgeṃdraḥ puruṣo'śvatthaḥ prahlāda ānanam || 44 ||

Translation

কৃতযুগ, সামবেদ, ধেনু (গাভী), ব্রাহ্মণ, অন্ন ও জল, পথ, মৃগেন্দ্র (সিংহ), পুরুষ, অশ্বত্থ (পিপল), প্রহ্লাদ এবং মুখ—এগুলি সকলই (শ্রেষ্ঠতার) নির্দেশরূপে বলা হয়েছে।

Word by Word

• kṛtam: Kṛta (Satya)
• kṛtam: Karta (कर्ता/उदाहरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; युगविशेष-नाम (name of an age)

• yugam: age (yuga)
• yugam: Karta (कर्ता/उदाहरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• sāmavedaḥ: Sāmaveda
• sāmavedaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/उदाहरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāma + veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa: ‘veda of sāman’)

• dhenuḥ: cow
• dhenuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/उदाहरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhenu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• vipraḥ: brāhmaṇa, learned man
• vipraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/उदाहरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• annam: food
• annam: Karta (कर्ता/उदाहरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ambu: water
• ambu: Karta (कर्ता/उदाहरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• mārgaḥ: path
• mārgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/उदाहरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• mṛga-indraḥ: lion (lord of beasts)
• mṛga-indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/उदाहरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘indra among animals’ = lord of beasts)

• puruṣaḥ: man/person
• puruṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/उदाहरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• aśvatthaḥ: aśvattha (sacred fig)
• aśvatthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/उदाहरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśvattha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• prahlādaḥ: Prahlāda
• prahlādaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/उदाहरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahlāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• ānanam: face/mouth
• ānanam: Karta (कर्ता/उदाहरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Prahlada
• Purusha

FAQs

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

It presents an anukramaṇikā-style list of sacred correspondences—linking cosmic time (Kṛta Yuga), Veda (Sāma), dharmic supports (cow, brāhmaṇa, food, water), and exemplary devotion (Prahlāda)—as a compact map of what sustains and sanctifies the world.

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

By explicitly naming Prahlāda—celebrated for unwavering Viṣṇu-bhakti—the verse signals that among sacred categories, the devotee and devotion-centered exemplars are integral to the Purāṇic path (mārga) of liberation and protection.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse functions like a mnemonic catalogue used in Purāṇic summaries: it organizes key dharmic and Vedic reference-points (e.g., Sāma Veda, yuga taxonomy) for recall—useful for traditional study, recitation frameworks, and interpretive indexing rather than a single ritual injunction.