Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5
The Anukramaṇī (Summary/Index) of the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa
हरिश्चंद्रकथा पुण्या युद्धमाडीबकाभिधम् । पितापुत्रसमाख्यानं दत्तात्रेयकथा ततः ॥ ५ ॥
hariścaṃdrakathā puṇyā yuddhamāḍībakābhidham | pitāputrasamākhyānaṃ dattātreyakathā tataḥ || 5 ||
Then comes the holy tale of Hariścandra; the account of the battle known as Āḍībaka; the narrative of a father and son; and thereafter, the story of Dattātreya.
Narada (cataloguing the contents to the Sanatkumara brothers)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
This verse functions as an anukramaṇikā (table-of-contents) marker, highlighting that the Purāṇa teaches dharma through exemplary narratives—such as Hariścandra’s truthfulness and Dattātreya’s spiritual insight—so that hearing/remembering them becomes meritorious.
By pointing to sacred kathās (holy narratives) as a means of purification, it supports the Purāṇic bhakti method of śravaṇa (devotional listening) and smaraṇa (remembrance) of virtuous lives and enlightened sages.
No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it is a structural catalogue of topics. Practically, it reflects the Purāṇic method of organizing instruction through narrative sections for study and recitation.