Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

The Exposition of the Table of Contents (Anukramaṇī) of the Agni Purāṇa

Devanagari script

ज्योतिषं च ततः प्रोक्तं शास्त्रं युद्धजयार्णवम् । षट्कर्म च ततः प्रोक्तं मंत्रमंत्रौषधीगणः ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

jyotiṣaṃ ca tataḥ proktaṃ śāstraṃ yuddhajayārṇavam | ṣaṭkarma ca tataḥ proktaṃ maṃtramaṃtrauṣadhīgaṇaḥ || 9 ||

Translation

Then the science of Jyotiṣa (astral lore) was taught, and also the treatise called Yuddhajayārṇava, the “Ocean of Victory in Battle.” After that, the doctrine of the ṣaṭkarman, the six ritual operations, was expounded, along with collections concerning mantras, counter-mantras, and medicinal herbs.

Word by Word

• jyotiṣam: astrology/astronomy (jyotiṣa)
• jyotiṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyotiṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (sequential adverb)

• proktam: is taught/declared
• proktam: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु) → prokta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); (elliptic passive sense) ‘(इदं) प्रोक्तम्’ = ‘is said/has been taught’

• śāstram: treatise; scripture
• śāstram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• yuddha-jaya-arṇavam: ‘Ocean of Victory in War’ (title/epithet)
• yuddha-jaya-arṇavam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + jaya (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: ‘युद्धजयस्य अर्णवम्’ (ocean-like compendium on victory in war)

• ṣaṭ-karmā: the six rites (ṣaṭkarma)
• ṣaṭ-karmā: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—द्विगुः: ‘षट् कर्माणि’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (sequential adverb)

• proktam: is taught/declared
• proktam: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु) → prokta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• mantra-mantra-auṣadhī-gaṇaḥ: a collection of mantras, (counter-)mantras, and medicinal herbs
• mantra-mantra-auṣadhī-gaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + auṣadhī (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—द्वन्द्वः (samāhāra/itaretara sense): ‘मन्त्राश्च मन्त्राः औषध्यश्च (तेषां) गणः’

Speaker

Narada (in an anukramanika-style enumeration of teachings/texts within the Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It presents an anukramanika-style catalog showing that the Purana transmits both spiritual instruction and auxiliary disciplines—Jyotiṣa, ritual operations, mantra-knowledge, and herbal lore—intended to support dharma and ordered living.

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

Indirectly: by listing supportive Vedic sciences, it frames practical disciplines (timing, rites, protective rites, remedies) as aids that can stabilize a devotee’s dharmic life, within which Vishnu-bhakti is traditionally cultivated.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa is explicitly highlighted—astral timing and calendrical knowledge—along with ṣaṭkarman (six ritual operations) and applied mantra/herbal traditions used in ritual and protection.