Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

The Exposition of the Index (Anukramaṇī) of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata

Devanagari script

प्रह्लादचरितं पुण्यं वर्णाश्रमनिरूपणम् । सप्तमो गदितो वत्स वासनाकर्मकीर्तने ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

prahlādacaritaṃ puṇyaṃ varṇāśramanirūpaṇam | saptamo gadito vatsa vāsanākarmakīrtane || 13 ||

Translation

Die heilige Erzählung von Prahlāda, zusammen mit der Darlegung von varṇa und āśrama (sozialen und geistlichen Lebensordnungen), wurde als siebter Abschnitt berichtet, liebes Kind, in der Darstellung über vāsanā (verborgene Neigungen) und Karma.

Word by Word

• प्रह्लाद-चरितम्: Prahlada's deeds/episode
• प्रह्लाद-चरितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक) + चरित (कृदन्त; √चर् (धातु))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रह्लादस्य चरितम्)

• पुण्यम्: meritorious, holy
• पुण्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (प्रह्लादचरितम् इति)

• वर्ण-आश्रम-निरूपणम्: description of varnas and ashramas
• वर्ण-आश्रम-निरूपणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + निरूपण (प्रातिपदिक; √रूप्/√रुप् + नि- (धातु) से भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वर्णानाम् आश्रमाणां च निरूपणम्)

• सप्तमः: the seventh (chapter/section)
• सप्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषणम्

• गदितः: has been told/declared
• गदितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गदित (कृदन्त; √गद् (धातु), क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘उक्तः/कथितः’

• वत्स: O dear child
• वत्स: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; संबोधन-पदम्

• वासनाकर्मकीर्तने: in the section on praising vasana and karma
• वासनाकर्मकीर्तने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासना (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कीर्तन (प्रातिपदिक; √कीर्त् (धातु) से भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वासनायाः कर्मणः कीर्तनम्)

Speaker

Sage Sanatkumara (addressing Narada as vatsa, within the Anukramanika-style summary)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Prahlada

FAQs

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

It functions as a table-of-contents marker: it highlights Prahlāda’s pure devotion as a merit-giving model and links it with varṇa–āśrama dharma, framing both within the broader teaching on how vāsanās and karma shape spiritual progress.

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

By pointing to “Prahlāda-carita” as “puṇya,” it signals that hearing/reciting the devotee’s exemplary conduct is itself spiritually purifying—an implicit endorsement of bhakti through śravaṇa-kīrtana (listening and sacred narration).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is not a direct Vedāṅga lesson; its practical takeaway is dharma-application—how varṇa–āśrama discipline supports inner purification by regulating conduct, thereby reducing harmful vāsanās and improving karma.