Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Matsya-purāṇa Anukramaṇikā

Synopsis / Table of Contents

Devanagari script

पितृप्रवरमाहात्म्यं मन्वंतरविनिर्णयः । चतुर्युगस्य संभूतिर्युगधर्मनिरूपणम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

pitṛpravaramāhātmyaṃ manvaṃtaravinirṇayaḥ | caturyugasya saṃbhūtiryugadharmanirūpaṇam || 18 ||

Translation

Es legt die Größe der Pitṛ und der pravara (Ahnenlinien) dar, bestimmt die Einteilungen der Manvantara, erklärt den Ursprung der vier Yuga und entfaltet das Dharma, das jeder Yuga entspricht.

Word by Word

• पितृ-प्रवर-माहात्म्यम्: the greatness of the foremost ancestors
• पितृ-प्रवर-माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म) / Topic (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक) + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): पितॄणां प्रवरस्य माहात्म्यम्

• मन्वन्तर-विनिर्णयः: the determination/decision regarding the Manvantaras
• मन्वन्तर-विनिर्णयः: Karta (कर्ता) / Topic (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्वन्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + विनिर्णय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: मन्वन्तरस्य विनिर्णयः

• चतुर्-युगस्य: of the four-yuga cycle
• चतुर्-युगस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः: चत्वारि युगानि यस्मिन् (चतुर्युगम्) तस्य

• सम्भूतिः: origin; coming into being
• सम्भूतिः: Karta (कर्ता) / Topic (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + भू (धातु) → सम्भूति (प्रातिपदिक, भाववाचक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• युग-धर्म-निरूपणम्: description of the duties/laws of the yugas
• युग-धर्म-निरूपणम्: Karma (कर्म) / Topic (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + निरूपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: युगधर्मस्य निरूपणम्

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Purāṇic outline; within the broader dialogue tradition attributed to Nārada’s transmission)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Manu
• Yugas

FAQs

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

It functions as an anukramaṇikā (topic-index) verse, signaling that the Purāṇa teaches cosmic time (Manvantaras and Yugas) alongside lineage sanctity (pitṛ–pravara), framing dharma as time-sensitive and tradition-rooted.

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

By highlighting yuga-dharma, it implies that spiritual practice—including devotion—must be aligned with the age’s prescribed dharma; bhakti is thereby presented as a disciplined, era-appropriate observance rather than a vague sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to calendrical and epochal reckoning (useful for Jyotiṣa-style time frameworks) and to pravara/ancestral identification used in ritual contexts—both supporting correct dharma-performance across time and lineage.