Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 144

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

चमत्कारपुराख्यानं चमत्कारकरं परम् । गयशीर्षं बालशाख्यं वालमंडं मृगाह्वयम् ॥ १४४ ॥

Transliteration

camatkārapurākhyānaṃ camatkārakaraṃ param | gayaśīrṣaṃ bālaśākhyaṃ vālamaṃḍaṃ mṛgāhvayam || 144 ||

Translation

Le récit nommé « Camatkāra-pura » est suprême, accomplissant des merveilles. (Il mentionne aussi) Gayāśīrṣa, le lieu appelé Bāla, Vālamaṇḍa, et le site nommé Mṛga.

Word by Word

• चमत्कार-पुर-आख्यानम्: the legend of Camatkāra-pura
• चमत्कार-पुर-आख्यानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चमत्कार + पुर + आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (चमत्कारपुरस्य आख्यानम्)

• चमत्कार-करम्: wonder-producing
• चमत्कार-करम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चमत्कार + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः चमत्कारं करोति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• परम्: supreme; excellent
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• गय-शीर्षम्: Gayaśīrṣa (a place name)
• गय-शीर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गय + शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः गयायाः शीर्षम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• बालशाख्यम्: called Bāla
• बालशाख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाल + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः बाल इति आख्यम् (नामधेय)

• वाल-मण्डम्: Vālamaṇḍa (a place name)
• वाल-मण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाल + मण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः वालस्य मण्डम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• मृगाह्वयम्: named Mṛga
• मृगाह्वयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृग + आह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः मृग इति आह्वयम् (named ‘Mṛga’)

Speaker

Nārada (continuing the anukramaṇikā-style enumeration while instructing the Sanatkumāra tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Gayāśīrṣa

FAQs

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

It functions as an anukramaṇikā (catalogue) verse, highlighting that certain narratives and place-names are themselves spiritually efficacious—remembering or engaging with their accounts is presented as ‘wonder-producing’ (camatkārakara).

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

Indirectly: by valuing sacred narration (ākhyāna) and holy places, it supports bhakti through śravaṇa (hearing) and smaraṇa (remembrance), common devotional means in Purāṇic practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Not a Vedāṅga lesson directly; rather, it reflects Purāṇic anukramaṇikā method—systematic naming and indexing of topics/kshetras, useful for ritual-pilgrimage planning and textual navigation.