Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

The Description of the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa’s Table of Contents

Anukramaṇī

Devanagari script

उर्द्ध्वलोकानुकथनं ग्रहचारस्ततः परम् । आदित्यव्यूहकथनं देवग्रहानुकीर्तनम् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

urddhvalokānukathanaṃ grahacārastataḥ param | ādityavyūhakathanaṃ devagrahānukīrtanam || 9 ||

Translation

Dann folgt die Darstellung der höheren Welten, darauf die Beschreibung der Bewegungen der Planeten; danach die Darlegung der kosmischen Formationen der Sonne (Āditya-vyūha) und die Aufzählung der göttlichen Planeten.

Word by Word

• ऊर्ध्व-लोक-अनुकथनम्: narration of the higher worlds
• ऊर्ध्व-लोक-अनुकथनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुकथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'ऊर्ध्वलोकानाम् अनुकथनम्'

• ग्रह-चारः: movement of the planets
• ग्रह-चारः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + चार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'ग्रहाणां चारः'

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• परम्: further/next
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• आदित्य-व्यूह-कथनम्: account of the array/grouping of the Ādityas
• आदित्य-व्यूह-कथनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यूह (प्रातिपदिक) + कथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'आदित्यानां व्यूहस्य कथनम्'

• देव-ग्रह-अनुकीर्तनम्: enumeration of the divine planets/constellations
• देव-ग्रह-अनुकीर्तनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुकीर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'देवग्रहाणाम् अनुकीर्तनम्'

Speaker

Suta (summarizing the Narada Purana’s contents in an anukramanika-style chapter)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Aditya (Surya)
• Grahas (planetary deities)

FAQs

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

It frames the Purana’s scope as both spiritual and cosmic—linking higher worlds (ūrdhva-lokas) with the ordered movement of grahas and Surya, encouraging a vision of dharma aligned with the universe’s sacred structure.

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

By treating Surya and the grahas as divine powers worthy of respectful remembrance, it supports bhakti through reverent contemplation of the Lord’s cosmic governance as expressed via celestial deities.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedanga astrology): the verse points to teachings on graha-cāra (planetary motion/transit) and related classifications of celestial deities used for calendrical timing and traditional religious observances.