Shloka 17

Yuga-Dharma, Kalpa Measure, Purāṇa Definitions, and the Kali-Yuga Power of Nāma-Kīrtana

Devanagari script

अन्यान्युपपुराणानि मुनिभिः कथितानि तु / आद्यं सनत्कुमारोक्तं नारसिंहमथापरम्

Transliteration

anyānyupapurāṇāni munibhiḥ kathitāni tu / ādyaṃ sanatkumāroktaṃ nārasiṃhamathāparam

Translation

Other subsidiary Upapurāṇas too have indeed been narrated by the sages. The first is said to be the one spoken by Sanatkumāra, and then the Narasiṁha Upapurāṇa comes next.

Word by Word

• अन्यानि: other
• अन्यानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Pl.)

• उपपुराणानि: minor Purāṇas (Upapurāṇas)
• उपपुराणानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upa + purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Pl.)

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karana (Instrument/Agentive means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Masc., Instr., Pl.)

• कथितानि: told/related
• कथितानि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (धातु) + ta (क्त, कर्मणि कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘कथित’ = ‘said/told’

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे (but/indeed)

• आद्यम्: the first
• आद्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Sg.)

• सनत्कुमारोक्तम्: spoken by Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारोक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanatkumāra (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (उक्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सनत्कुमारस्य उक्तम्) (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Sg.)

• नारसिंहम्: (the) Nārasiṃha (Upapurāṇa)
• नारसिंहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārasiṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Sg.)

• अथ: then/next
• अथ: Sambandha (Sequencing/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अनन्तरार्थे (then/next)

• अपरम्: another
• अपरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Sg.)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śāstra-pramāṇa through lineage: upapurāṇas are validated by sage-authorship and ordered transmission.

Vedantic Theme: Āgama/itihāsa-purāṇa as supportive pramāṇa (smṛti) for dharma and devotion; respect for guru-paramparā.

Application: Use recognized textual lineages when studying or citing purāṇic material; cultivate discernment (viveka) about sources.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.223.18-21 (continuation of the upapurāṇa/vidyā listing)

Characters & Entities

• Munis (sages)
• Sanatkumara
• Narasimha

FAQs

What is the importance of Upapuranas in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that, alongside major Purāṇas, the tradition also preserves Upapurāṇas narrated by sages, showing how Purāṇic knowledge is organized and transmitted through recognized lineages.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it frames the textual sources (Upapurāṇas) that support Purāṇic teaching, which elsewhere includes afterlife, karma, and rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to consult authentic, lineage-based sources when studying Purāṇic topics—especially ritual and dharma—rather than relying on fragmented or unauthenticated summaries.