Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

मत्स्याक्तारचरितमष्टमोऽयं प्रकीर्तितः । सूर्यवंशसमाख्यानं सोमवंशनिरूपणम् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

matsyāktāracaritamaṣṭamo'yaṃ prakīrtitaḥ | sūryavaṃśasamākhyānaṃ somavaṃśanirūpaṇam || 15 ||

Translation

So ist dieser achte Abschnitt verkündet worden, der die Erzählung von Matsya und den anderen göttlichen Herabkünften (Avatāras) preist, zusammen mit dem Bericht über die Sonnendynastie (Sūrya-vaṃśa) und der Darlegung der Monddynastie (Soma-vaṃśa).

Word by Word

• मत्स्य-अवतार-चरितम्: the deeds of the Matsya incarnation
• मत्स्य-अवतार-चरितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतार (प्रातिपदिक) + चरित (कृदन्त; √चर् (धातु))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मत्स्यावतारस्य चरितम्)

• अष्टमः: the eighth
• अष्टमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषणम्

• अयम्: this (one/section)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रकीर्तितः: has been proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रकीर्तित (कृदन्त; √कीर्त् (धातु) + प्र-, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘प्रशंसितः/उक्तः’

• सूर्य-वंश-समाख्यानम्: the account of the Solar dynasty
• सूर्य-वंश-समाख्यानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वंश (प्रातिपदिक) + समाख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सूर्यवंशस्य समाख्यानम्)

• सोम-वंश-निरूपणम्: the description of the Lunar dynasty
• सोम-वंश-निरूपणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक) + वंश (प्रातिपदिक) + निरूपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सोमवंशस्य निरूपणम्)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Matsya
• Suryavamsa
• Somavamsa

FAQs

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

It signals a structured Purāṇic roadmap: avatāra-kathā and the great dynastic lineages are presented as sacred history that supports dharma and devotion by connecting cosmic order with human conduct.

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

By highlighting avatāra narratives (beginning with Matsya), it points to bhakti through remembrance (smaraṇa) of the Lord’s saving acts and through hearing (śravaṇa) sacred histories that inspire surrender and faith.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Purāṇic anukramaṇikā-style organization and vamśānucarita (genealogical narration), which supports traditional chronology and contextual reading of dharma narratives rather than a specific Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa in this verse.