Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

दशावतारकथनं स्रानादिपरिकीर्तनम् । ततो बदरिकायाश्च माहात्म्यं पापनाशनम् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

daśāvatārakathanaṃ srānādiparikīrtanam | tato badarikāyāśca māhātmyaṃ pāpanāśanam || 30 ||

Translation

Ensuite est racontée l’histoire des Dix Avatāra (Daśāvatāra) de Śrī Viṣṇu, et sont proclamés les mérites du bain sacré et des rites qui s’y rattachent ; puis est exposée la grandeur (māhātmya) de Badarikā (Badrinātha), qui anéantit les péchés.

Word by Word

• daśa-avatāra-kathanam: narration of the ten incarnations
• daśa-avatāra-kathanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + avatāra (प्रातिपदिक) + kathana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—दशावतारस्य कथनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• snāna-ādi-parikīrtanam: description of bathing etc.
• snāna-ādi-parikīrtanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + parikīrtana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—स्नानादीनां परिकीर्तनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (sequencing adverb)

• badarikāyāḥ: of Badarikā (Badrinath)
• badarikāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: badarikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• māhātmyam: the greatness (glory)
• māhātmyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māhātmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• pāpa-nāśanam: sin-destroying
• pāpa-nāśanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—पापस्य नाशनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); विशेषणम् (qualifier) māhātmyam इत्यस्य

Speaker

Sage Nārada (in dialogue framework with Sanatkumāra), presenting a contents-summary

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Badarika (Badrinatha)

FAQs

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

This verse functions as an anukramaṇikā (contents cue), highlighting three purifying pillars: remembering Viṣṇu’s avatāras, performing śuddhi-oriented rites like sacred bathing, and honoring Badarikā’s tīrtha-māhātmya as a means for pāpa-kṣaya (removal of sin).

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

By foregrounding daśāvatāra-kathā, it points to bhakti through śravaṇa and kīrtana—devotional hearing and praising of Viṣṇu’s divine descents—supported by tīrtha-sevā and ritual purity practices.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It chiefly reflects kalpa/ācāra practice (ritual procedure and dharmic conduct) through “snāna-ādi” rites, emphasizing how prescribed observances at tīrthas are treated as spiritually efficacious in Purāṇic dharma.