Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 142

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

लिंगोत्पत्तिसमाख्यानं हरिश्चन्द्रकथा शुभा । विश्वामित्रस्य माहात्म्यं त्रिशंकुस्वर्गतिस्तथा ॥ १४२ ॥

Transliteration

liṃgotpattisamākhyānaṃ hariścandrakathā śubhā | viśvāmitrasya māhātmyaṃ triśaṃkusvargatistathā || 142 ||

Translation

Es enthält die Erzählung von der Offenbarung des Liṅga, die glückverheißende Geschichte von Hariścandra, die Größe Viśvāmitras sowie die Schilderung von Triśaṅkus Aufstieg zum Himmel.

Word by Word

• लिङ्गोत्पत्ति-समाख्यानम्: the account of the origin of the liṅga
• लिङ्गोत्पत्ति-समाख्यानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग + उत्पत्ति + समाख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (लिङ्गस्य उत्पत्तेः समाख्यानम्)

• हरिश्चन्द्र-कथा: the story of Hariścandra
• हरिश्चन्द्र-कथा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिश्चन्द्र + कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः हरिश्चन्द्रस्य कथा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• शुभा: auspicious
• शुभा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (कथायाः)

• विश्वामित्रस्य: of Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness; glory
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्रिशङ्कु-स्वर्ग-गतिः: Triśaṅku’s ascent to heaven
• त्रिशङ्कु-स्वर्ग-गतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशङ्कु + स्वर्ग + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (त्रिशङ्कोः स्वर्गगतिः)

• तथा: also; and
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः (conjunctive adverb: also/and)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada Purana’s chapter-wise contents in an Anukramanika style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Liṅga (Śiva-liṅga)
• Hariścandra
• Viśvāmitra
• Triśaṅku

FAQs

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

This verse functions as an index (anukramanika) pointing to key dharma narratives—Liṅga’s manifestation, Hariścandra’s truthfulness, Viśvāmitra’s spiritual power, and Triśaṅku’s extraordinary fate—highlighting how Purāṇic stories teach ethics, tapas, and divine order.

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

Indirectly: by listing sacred narratives, it signals that hearing (śravaṇa) and remembering (smaraṇa) such accounts is a Purāṇic method of cultivating devotion—especially through exemplary lives (like Hariścandra) and divine manifestations (like the Liṅga).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique (such as Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; rather, it serves a cataloguing purpose typical of Purāṇic anukramanika sections, organizing topics for study and recitation.