Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

The Description of the Index (Anukramaṇikā) of the Padma Purāṇa

Devanagari script

कल्पांतरे रामकथा भारद्वाजाश्रमस्थिता । पातालखंडमेतद्धि श्रृण्वतां पठतां सदा ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

kalpāṃtare rāmakathā bhāradvājāśramasthitā | pātālakhaṃḍametaddhi śrṛṇvatāṃ paṭhatāṃ sadā || 26 ||

Translation

In einem anderen Kalpa wurde die Erzählung von Rāma im Āśrama Bhāradvājas bewahrt. Wahrlich, dies ist die Pātāla-khaṇḍa, dazu bestimmt, stets gehört und regelmäßig rezitiert zu werden.

Word by Word

• कल्प-अन्तरे: in another kalpa
• कल्प-अन्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘कल्पस्य अन्तरे’

• राम-कथा: the story of Rāma
• राम-कथा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘रामस्य कथा’

• भारद्वाज-आश्रम-स्थिता: situated in Bhāradvāja’s hermitage
• भारद्वाज-आश्रम-स्थिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भारद्वाज (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त-विशेषण (PPP ‘स्थित’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/अधिकरण-तत्पुरुषः: ‘भारद्वाजस्य आश्रमे स्थिता’

• पाताल-खण्डम्: the Pātāla section
• पाताल-खण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक) + खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘पातालस्य खण्डम्’

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेतौ/निश्चये (indeed/for)

• शृण्वताम्: of those who listen
• शृण्वताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (वर्तमान-कृदन्त/शतृ), षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन; ‘शृण्वत्’ = hearing; ‘शृण्वताम्’ = of those who listen

• पठताम्: of those who recite
• पठताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (वर्तमान-कृदन्त/शतृ), षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘पठत्’ = reading; ‘पठताम्’ = of those who recite/read

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Bharadvaja
• Patala-khanda

FAQs

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

It sanctifies Rāma-kathā as a timeless Purāṇic transmission and emphasizes śravaṇa (hearing) and pāṭha (recitation) as spiritually fruitful disciplines for devotees.

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

By recommending continual listening and recitation of Rāma-kathā, it points to bhakti practices centered on nāma-kathā-smaraṇa—devotional engagement through sacred narrative.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily highlights pāṭha/recitation discipline (a practical textual tradition). While not a direct Vedāṅga lesson, it implies careful transmission aligned with śikṣā (correct recitation) and vyākaraṇa (preserving wording).