Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 97

Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds

Devanagari script

इति श्रीबृहन्नारदीयपुराणे पूर्वभागे प्रथमपादे धर्माख्याने द्वादशोऽध्यायः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

iti śrībṛhannāradīyapurāṇe pūrvabhāge prathamapāde dharmākhyāne dvādaśo'dhyāyaḥ || 12 ||

Translation

So endet das zwölfte Kapitel, betitelt „Dharma-ākhyāna“, im ersten Pāda des Pūrva-bhāga des Śrī Bṛhannāradīya Purāṇa.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/colophon)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; colophon marker

• śrī-bṛhat-nāradīya-purāṇe: in the Śrī Bṛhan-Nāradīya Purāṇa
• śrī-bṛhat-nāradīya-purāṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + bṛhat + nāradīya + purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; title compound: śrī (honorific) + bṛhat (great) + nāradīya (of Nārada) qualifying purāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the former part
• pūrva-bhāge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular; Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/विशेषणपूर्वपद) ‘pūrvaḥ bhāgaḥ’

• prathama-pāde: in the first section (pāda)
• prathama-pāde: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prathama + pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular; Tatpuruṣa ‘prathamaḥ pādaḥ’

• dharma-ākhyāne: in the narration on dharma
• dharma-ākhyāne: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma + ākhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular; Tatpuruṣa ‘dharma-viṣayakam ākhyānam’

• dvādaśaḥ: twelfth
• dvādaśaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ordinal adjective qualifying ‘adhyāyaḥ’

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter
• adhyāyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

Narrator/Redactor (colophon line; not part of dialogue speech)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhannāradīya Purāṇa
• Dharma-ākhyāna

FAQs

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

This is a colophon marking the completion of Adhyāya 12; its significance is textual—confirming the section (Pūrva-bhāga, Prathama-pāda) and the theme-title “Dharma-ākhyāna,” helping preserve the integrity of the dharma teaching sequence.

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

It does not directly teach bhakti; it functions as an editorial closing line. Indirectly, it frames the preceding dharma discourse as a complete unit within the Narada Purana’s broader teachings that often culminate in devotion to Viṣṇu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No Vedāṅga topic is taught in this line; it is a structural colophon used for chapter identification and accurate citation in recitation, manuscript transmission, and digital archiving.