Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

The Exposition of the Contents (Anukramaṇī) of the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa

Devanagari script

पुराणानां यदा व्यासो व्यासं चक्रे महामतिः । तदा तां संहितां सर्वां पंचधा व्यभजन्मुनिः ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

purāṇānāṃ yadā vyāso vyāsaṃ cakre mahāmatiḥ | tadā tāṃ saṃhitāṃ sarvāṃ paṃcadhā vyabhajanmuniḥ || 4 ||

Translation

Als der großgesinnte Vyāsa die Zusammenstellung und Ordnung der Purāṇas unternahm, teilte jener Weise das gesamte Saṃhitā in fünf Teile.

Word by Word

• purāṇānām: of the Purāṇas
• purāṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• yadā: when
• yadā: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (when)

• vyāsaḥ: Vyāsa
• vyāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• vyāsam: a compilation/arrangement
• vyāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म; (here: ‘arrangement/compilation’ as object)

• cakre: made, composed
• cakre: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• mahā-matiḥ: the great-minded (sage)
• mahā-matiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; व्यासस्य विशेषण-नाम

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then)

• tām: that
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (refers to saṃhitām)

• saṃhitām: compendium
• saṃhitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃhitā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• sarvām: entire
• sarvām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies saṃhitām)

• paṃcadhā: into five parts
• paṃcadhā: Prakara (प्रकार/मanner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paṃcadhā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in five ways/into five parts)

• vyabhajat: divided
• vyabhajat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + ā + bhaj (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्गः वि-, आ-

• muniḥ: the sage
• muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; व्यासस्य अप्पोजिशन (apposition)

Speaker

Suta

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa

FAQs

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

It presents Vyāsa as the divinely inspired organizer of Purāṇic knowledge, emphasizing that sacred teachings are preserved through deliberate compilation and structured transmission.

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

Indirectly, it supports Bhakti by showing that Purāṇas—primary sources for Hari/Vishnu devotion, vows, and worship—were systematized by Vyāsa so devotees could access them in an orderly and authoritative form.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights textual organization and redaction (saṃhitā-vyavasthā), a practical discipline aligned with śāstra-preservation—supporting accurate recitation, interpretation, and teaching, which underpins Vedāṅga-style scholarly transmission.