Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 162

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

श्र्यर्बुदौ रैवतश्चैव पर्वतत्रयमुत्तमम् । नदीनां त्रितयं गंगा नर्मदा च सरस्वती ॥ १६२ ॥

Transliteration

śryarbudau raivataścaiva parvatatrayamuttamam | nadīnāṃ tritayaṃ gaṃgā narmadā ca sarasvatī || 162 ||

Translation

Śrī Arbuda et Raivata sont, en vérité, les plus éminents parmi les trois montagnes sacrées ; et parmi les fleuves, la triade est Gaṅgā, Narmadā et Sarasvatī.

Word by Word

• श्री-अर्बुदौ: Śrī and Arbuda
• श्री-अर्बुदौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्बुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (two mountains: Śrī and Arbuda)

• रैवतः: Raivata
• रैवतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Proper noun (पर्वतनाम)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphatic particle (निश्चय/अवधारण)

• पर्वत-त्रयम्: the three mountains
• पर्वत-त्रयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नदीनाम्: of rivers
• नदीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन

• त्रितयम्: a triad (set of three)
• त्रितयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रितय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गङ्गा: Gaṅgā
• गङ्गा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Proper noun

• नर्मदा: Narmadā
• नर्मदा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Proper noun

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• सरस्वती: Sarasvatī
• सरस्वती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Proper noun

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Arbuda
• Raivata
• Ganga
• Narmada
• Sarasvati

FAQs

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

It functions as an Anukramaṇikā-style ranking of sacred geography, identifying exemplary mountains and the foremost rivers, thereby guiding devotees toward tīrtha-oriented dharma such as pilgrimage, bathing (snāna), and remembrance of holy places.

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

By spotlighting Gaṅgā, Narmadā, and Sarasvatī as foremost rivers, the verse supports bhakti through tīrtha-sevā—reverential contact with sacred waters and places—traditionally paired with nāma-smaraṇa, dāna, and worship, which purify the mind for devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily reflects Purāṇic sacred geography rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it informs dharma-kāṇḍa observance by indicating prominent tīrthas used for snāna, vrata-supporting pilgrimages, and ritual purity contexts.