Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

The Description of the Index/Summary of the Garuḍa

Purāṇa

Devanagari script

सामुद्रिकं स्वरज्ञानं नवरत्नपरीक्षणम् । माहात्म्यमथ तीर्थानां गयामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

sāmudrikaṃ svarajñānaṃ navaratnaparīkṣaṇam | māhātmyamatha tīrthānāṃ gayāmāhātmyamuttamam || 10 ||

Translation

Es legt auch dar: Sāmudrika (sāmudrika), die Lehre der Physiognomie; das Wissen um Svaras (svara), Töne und Intonation; und die Prüfung der neun Edelsteine (nava-ratna). Sodann beschreibt es die heilige Größe (māhātmya) der Tīrthas, der Pilgerstätten, und—höchsterweise—die erhabene Größe von Gayā.

Word by Word

• सामुद्रिकम्: physiognomy/palmistry (sāmudrika-śāstra)
• सामुद्रिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामुद्रिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); शास्त्रनाम (science of physiognomy/palmistry)

• स्वर-ज्ञानम्: knowledge of sounds/tones
• स्वर-ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः: स्वरस्य ज्ञानम्

• नव-रत्न-परीक्षणम्: examination of the nine gems
• नव-रत्न-परीक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव + रत्न + परीक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः: नवरत्नानां परीक्षणम्

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness/glorification
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अथ: then/next
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/next)

• तीर्थानाम्: of pilgrimage places
• तीर्थानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• गया-माहात्म्यम्: the glorification of Gayā
• गया-माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: गयायाः माहात्म्यम्

• उत्तमम्: excellent/supreme
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (adjective) to गया-माहात्म्यम्

Speaker

Suta (topic-enumeration within the Anukramanika section; traditionally relaying the Purana’s contents)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Gayā

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a contents-listing (anukramaṇikā), showing that the Purana integrates practical sciences (like sāmudrika and gem-testing) with tīrtha-māhātmya, culminating in the especially revered Gayā pilgrimage tradition.

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

By highlighting tīrtha-māhātmya—especially Gayā—it points to devotion expressed through pilgrimage, reverence, and ritual acts performed with faith, which are classic Purāṇic supports for bhakti and purification.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to technical knowledge streams associated with Vedic culture—svara-jñāna (tones/intonation used in recitation and music) and ancillary applied sciences like sāmudrika (mark-reading) and navaratna-parīkṣaṇa (gem examination).