Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1
The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī
Index/Summary
ब्रह्मोवाच । श्रृणु वत्स प्रवक्ष्यामि पुराणं स्कन्दसंज्ञकम् । यस्मिन्प्रतिपदं साक्षान्महादेवो व्यवस्थितः ॥ १ ॥
brahmovāca | śrṛṇu vatsa pravakṣyāmi purāṇaṃ skandasaṃjñakam | yasminpratipadaṃ sākṣānmahādevo vyavasthitaḥ || 1 ||
Brahmā dit : « Écoute, mon enfant bien-aimé ; je vais proclamer le Purāṇa connu sous le nom de Skanda Purāṇa, où, à chaque pas, Mahādeva (Śiva) lui-même est établi directement comme Présence souveraine. »
Brahma
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It frames the Skanda Purāṇa as a text pervaded by Mahādeva’s presence, indicating that its teachings and narratives are to be read as Śiva-centered dharma and devotion throughout.
By stating that Mahādeva is ‘directly established at every step,’ it encourages uninterrupted remembrance and reverence—an essential bhakti orientation where the deity is seen as present in every section and teaching.
This verse functions as an anukramaṇikā-style marker (textual indexing/genre identification) rather than a Vedāṅga instruction; its practical takeaway is recognizing the Purāṇa’s sectarian focus for correct recitation, study, and ritual use.