Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Kūrmāpurāṇa-Anukramaṇikā

Index/Summary of the Kūrma Purāṇa

Devanagari script

लिखित्वैतत्तु यो भक्त्या हेमकूर्मसमन्वितम् । ब्राह्मणायायने दद्यात्स याति परमां गतिम् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

likhitvaitattu yo bhaktyā hemakūrmasamanvitam | brāhmaṇāyāyane dadyātsa yāti paramāṃ gatim || 24 ||

Translation

Wer jedoch in Hingabe diesen Text abschreiben lässt, zusammen mit dem Zeichen einer goldenen Schildkröte, und ihn zur Zeit des Ayana einem Brāhmaṇa schenkt, erlangt den höchsten Zustand.

Word by Word

• लिखित्वा: having written
• लिखित्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive); ‘having written’

• एतत्: this (text)
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-भाव (instrumental: with devotion)

• हेमकूर्मसमन्वितम्: accompanied by a golden tortoise (emblem/figure)
• हेमकूर्मसमन्वितम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier of एतत्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम + कूर्म + समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: हेमकूर्मेण समन्वितम् (endowed with a golden tortoise)

• ब्राह्मणाय: to a brāhmaṇa
• ब्राह्मणाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th case), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (dative: to a brāhmaṇa)

• अयने: in an ayana (auspicious period)
• अयने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location-Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative: at/within an ayana—auspicious time/seasonal course)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (demonstrative pronoun)

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier of गतिम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण

• गतिम्: destination
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्म (object of याति)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a phala-śruti register within the Anukramaṇikā context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana
• Kurma

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotional transmission of sacred knowledge—by writing the text and offering it as a gift—functions as a powerful dharmic act (dāna) that leads to the highest spiritual destination (paramā gati).

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

Bhakti is highlighted as the inner force behind the ritual act: the gift is not merely material, but an offering done with devotion, linking generosity, reverence for scripture, and liberation-oriented merit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The mention of “ayana” points to calendrical timing used in ritual life—aligned with Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology/astronomy)—indicating that auspicious periods (ayana-parva) are considered significant for dāna.