Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 157

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

भार्गवं चरितं चैव वैश्वामैत्रं ततः परम् । सारस्वतं पैप्पलादं कंसारीशं च पैंडकम् ॥ १५७ ॥

Transliteration

bhārgavaṃ caritaṃ caiva vaiśvāmaitraṃ tataḥ param | sārasvataṃ paippalādaṃ kaṃsārīśaṃ ca paiṃḍakam || 157 ||

Translation

S’y trouvent aussi le récit de Bhārgava; puis celui de Vaiśvāmaitra; ceux de Sārasvata et de Paippalāda; ainsi que Kaṃsārīśa et Paiṇḍaka.

Word by Word

• bhārgavam: Bhārgava (section/account)
• bhārgavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhārgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) as title/name, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• caritam: deeds/story
• caritam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• eva: indeed/also
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle

• vaiśvāmaitram: Vaiśvāmaitra (section/account)
• vaiśvāmaitram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśvāmaitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter as title/name, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of sequence

• param: next/further
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; विशेषण (qualifying the next item: ‘the next/further’)

• sārasvatam: Sārasvata (section/account)
• sārasvatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārasvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter as title/name, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• paippalādam: Paippalāda
• paippalādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paippalāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine as name/title, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• kaṃsārīśam: Kaṃsārīśa (lord/hero, ‘enemy of Kaṃsa’)
• kaṃsārīśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṃsa-ari-īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः (kaṃsasya ariḥ = enemy of Kaṃsa; tasya īśaḥ / kaṃsāreḥ īśaḥ)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• paiṃḍakam: Paiṃḍaka (section/account)
• paiṃḍakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paiṃḍaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter as title/name, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛgu (Bhārgava)
• Viśvāmitra
• Sarasvatī
• Kṛṣṇa (Kaṃsāri)

FAQs

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

This verse functions as an anukramaṇikā (index-like summary), affirming that multiple sacred lineages and narrative cycles—connected with ṛṣis and Vaiṣṇava themes—are preserved as authoritative paths for dharma and devotion.

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

By explicitly including the Kaṃsāri (Kṛṣṇa, the slayer of Kaṃsa) narrative among the enumerated sections, the verse signals that hearing and preserving Kṛṣṇa-centered accounts is a recognized vehicle for Vaiṣṇava bhakti within the Purāṇic corpus.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects anukramaṇikā methodology—systematic cataloging and transmission of textual units and traditions (śākhā/recension awareness, e.g., Paippalāda)—which aligns with Vedāṅga concerns of preserving correct textual order and lineage in śruti-smṛti learning.