Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 176

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

दुर्वासार्कघटस्थानहिरण्यासंगमोत्कथा । नगरार्कस्य कृष्णस्य संकर्षणसमुद्रयोः ॥ १७६ ॥

Transliteration

durvāsārkaghaṭasthānahiraṇyāsaṃgamotkathā | nagarārkasya kṛṣṇasya saṃkarṣaṇasamudrayoḥ || 176 ||

Translation

Cette section raconte les récits renommés de Durvāsā, d’Arka, du lieu sacré appelé Ghaṭa, d’Hiraṇya, de la confluence sainte (Āsaṅgama), et aussi de Nagarārka, de Kṛṣṇa, ainsi que de Saṃkarṣaṇa et de l’océan.

Word by Word

• दुर्वासा-अर्क-घट-स्थान-हिरण्य-आसङ्गम-उत्कथा: the remarkable account of Durvāsas, Arka, the pot, the place, and the contact with gold
• दुर्वासा-अर्क-घट-स्थान-हिरण्य-आसङ्गम-उत्कथा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्वासा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + घट (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक) + हिरण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आसङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास-समूहः—दुर्वाससः/अर्कस्य/घटस्य/स्थानस्य/हिरण्यस्य/आसङ्गमस्य उत्कथा

• नगर-अर्कस्य: of Nagarārka
• नगर-अर्कस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः—‘नगरस्य अर्कः’ (the Sun/Arka of the city; or city-Arka)

• कृष्णस्य: of Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• संकर्षण-समुद्रयोः: of Saṃkarṣaṇa and the ocean
• संकर्षण-समुद्रयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संकर्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual); द्वन्द्वः—‘संकर्षणश्च समुद्रश्च’

Speaker

Suta (Anukramaṇikā narrator summarizing contents)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Durvasa
• Surya (Arka)
• Krishna
• Sankarshana (Balarama)
• Samudra (Ocean)

FAQs

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

This verse functions as an anukramaṇikā (catalogue): it signals that the Purāṇa preserves multiple tīrtha-linked and saint-linked narratives, guiding the reader toward sacred places, divine figures, and exemplary episodes for smṛti, śraddhā, and dharma.

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

By naming Kṛṣṇa and Saṃkarṣaṇa alongside revered sages and tīrthas, the verse frames bhakti as remembrance (smaraṇa) supported by Purāṇic hearing (śravaṇa) of the Lord’s names and connected sacred histories.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Purāṇic anukrama (systematic indexing/summarizing of topics), which supports study-method (adhyayana-krama) and ritual travel planning to tīrthas; it is organizational knowledge rather than a direct exposition of Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, or Jyotiṣa in this single verse.