Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

स्कन्दाह्वयस्तत्र खण्डाः सप्तैव परिकल्पिताः । एकाशीतिसहस्रं तु स्कान्दं सर्वोघकृतंनम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

skandāhvayastatra khaṇḍāḥ saptaiva parikalpitāḥ | ekāśītisahasraṃ tu skāndaṃ sarvoghakṛtaṃnam || 3 ||

Translation

Dort ist die Purāṇa namens Skanda in sieben Khaṇḍas (Abschnitte) gegliedert. Die Skānda, aus einundachtzigtausend Versen bestehend, wird verehrt als ein Werk, das jede Masse von Hindernissen (Sünden und Bedrängnisse) vertreibt.

Word by Word

• skanda-āhvayāḥ: named ‘Skanda’
• skanda-āhvayāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: skanda (प्रातिपदिक) + āhvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; adjective qualifying 'khaṇḍāḥ' meaning 'called Skanda'

• tatra: therein
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place

• khaṇḍāḥ: sections
• khaṇḍāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• sapta: seven
• sapta: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/number)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: Numeral (संख्या), indeclinable-like; used adjectivally with 'khaṇḍāḥ'

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle

• parikalpitāḥ: are arranged/assigned
• parikalpitāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicative passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + kḷp (धातु) → parikalpita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; passive/predicative with implied 'santi'

• ekāśīti-sahasram: eighty-one thousand
• ekāśīti-sahasram: Karta (कर्ता/subject/predicate number)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekāśīti (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; dvigu numeral compound = 'eighty-one thousand'

• tu: and/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle

• skāndam: the Skānda (Purāṇa)
• skāndam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: skānda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; name of the Purāṇa/text

• sarva-ogha-kṛtam: compiled as a complete collection
• sarva-ogha-kṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + ogha (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; kṛdanta (क्त) used adjectivally; meaning 'made/compiled by all groups/hosts' or 'made as a complete collection' (reading uncertain due to manuscript)

• nam: (unclear)
• nam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/uncertain)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: (पाठभेद/अस्पष्ट)
• Form: Textual corruption/unclear pada in given IAST 'kṛtaṃnam'; likely part of 'kṛtam' + 'iti/nāma' etc. Requires manuscript check.

Speaker

Sage Narada (in dialogue with Sanatkumara tradition; Anukramanika narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Skanda (as the Purana-title/personage)

FAQs

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

It functions as an Anukramanika (catalog) statement: it identifies the Skanda Purana’s formal structure (seven khaṇḍas) and praises its purificatory power as a text that removes accumulated obstacles and sins.

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

By glorifying the Skanda Purana as ‘sarvaugha-nāśa’ (destroyer of all burdens), it supports the bhakti practice of Purana-śravaṇa and pāṭha—devotional hearing/recitation—as a means of inner purification and steadying devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects Shastra-anukrama (textual organization and enumeration): counting verses and divisions is a practical archival method used in Purāṇic transmission, aiding accurate preservation, citation, and recitation planning.