Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43
The Description of the Glory of the Purāṇa
Purāṇa-Māhātmya
यथा श्रेष्ठा नदी गंगा पुष्करं च सरो यथा । काशी पुरी नगो मेरुर्देवो नारायणो हरिः ॥ ४३ ॥
yathā śreṣṭhā nadī gaṃgā puṣkaraṃ ca saro yathā | kāśī purī nago merurdevo nārāyaṇo hariḥ || 43 ||
Wie die Gaṅgā die erhabenste unter den Flüssen ist und Puṣkara das erhabenste unter den Seen; wie Kāśī die erhabenste unter den Städten ist und Meru der erhabenste unter den Bergen—so ist unter den Göttern Nārāyaṇa (Hari) der Höchste.
Narada (teaching in a didactic, summary style within the Anukramanika context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It establishes a hierarchy of “supreme exemplars” (best river, lake, city, mountain) to affirm the theological conclusion that among all devas, Nārāyaṇa/Hari is the highest refuge and object of worship.
By declaring Hari as supreme among the gods, it directs devotion toward a single, highest Lord (Nārāyaṇa), encouraging focused Vishnu-bhakti rather than scattered worship.
No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it functions as a Purāṇic anukramaṇikā-style statement that supports ritual and pilgrimage priorities by identifying foremost tīrthas and the supreme deity.