Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

धनुष्कोट्यादिमाहात्म्यं क्षीरकुंडादिजं तथा । गायत्र्यादिकतीर्थानां माहात्म्यं चात्र कीर्तितम् ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

dhanuṣkoṭyādimāhātmyaṃ kṣīrakuṃḍādijaṃ tathā | gāyatryādikatīrthānāṃ māhātmyaṃ cātra kīrtitam || 53 ||

Translation

Ici sont décrites la gloire sacrée des lieux commençant par Dhanuṣkoṭi, de même celle des sites commençant par Kṣīrakuṇḍa, et aussi la grandeur des tīrthas commençant par (le tīrtha de) Gāyatrī et ainsi de suite.

Word by Word

• धनुष्कोटि-आदि-माहात्म्यम्: the greatness of Dhanuṣkoṭi and others
• धनुष्कोटि-आदि-माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म) / Uddeśya (उद्देश्य) (enumerated topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुष्कोटि + आदि + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• क्षीरकुण्ड-आदि-जम्: arising from (the account of) Kṣīra-kuṇḍa and others
• क्षीरकुण्ड-आदि-जम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (qualifier; elliptical)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीरकुण्ड + आदि + ज (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण from √जन्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); 'ज' = from √जन् (born/produced from); agrees with implied neuter head (e.g., 'माहात्म्यम्/वर्णनम्')

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (connective)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable); समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक (connector: 'and also')

• गायत्री-आदि-तीर्थानाम्: of the tīrthas beginning with Gāyatrī
• गायत्री-आदि-तीर्थानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (genitive relation to 'माहात्म्यम्')
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री + आदि + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter; 'तीर्थ' as head), षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—गायत्र्यादीनि तीर्थानि (tīrthas such as Gāyatrī) तेषाम्

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness, sacred glory
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म) (object/topic of 'कीर्तितम्')
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable); अव्यय-प्रकारः—समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (adverbial locus)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable); अव्यय-प्रकारः—देशवाचक (locative adverb: 'here/in this (text/section)')

• कीर्तितम्: has been narrated
• कीर्तितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया) (passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कीर्त् (कीर्तयति) (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (Kridanta) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि प्रयोगे (passive sense): 'has been narrated/mentioned'

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Gayatri

FAQs

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

It functions as an anukramaṇikā-style marker, indicating that the Purāṇa has already praised multiple tīrthas (pilgrimage sites) and their māhātmya—affirming tīrtha-yātrā as a dharmic means of purification and merit.

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

By highlighting tīrtha-māhātmya, it supports bhakti through sacred geography: visiting and honoring revered sites (often connected with mantra and deity worship) becomes a practical expression of devotion aligned with Purāṇic dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; it instead catalogs tīrtha topics—useful for ritual planning and pilgrimage orientation within Narada Purana’s summarized contents.