Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

भद्रायुमहिमा चापि भस्ममाहात्म्यकीर्तनम् । शबराख्यानकं चैव उमामाहेश्वरं व्रतम् ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

bhadrāyumahimā cāpi bhasmamāhātmyakīrtanam | śabarākhyānakaṃ caiva umāmāheśvaraṃ vratam || 72 ||

Translation

On y décrit encore la gloire de Bhadrāyu, le récit de la grandeur du bhasma (cendre sacrée), l’épisode dit de Śabara, et le vœu nommé Umā–Māheśvara Vrata.

Word by Word

• भद्रायुमहिमा: the glory of Bhadrāyu
• भद्रायुमहिमा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्रायु-महिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (भद्रायोः महिमा)

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: also)

• भस्ममाहात्म्यकीर्तनम्: the narration of the greatness of sacred ash
• भस्ममाहात्म्यकीर्तनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्म-माहात्म्य-कीर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (भस्मनः माहात्म्यस्य कीर्तनम्)

• शबराख्यानकम्: the tale of the hunter (Śabara)
• शबराख्यानकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शबर-आख्यानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (शबरस्य आख्यानकम्)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed/just)

• उमामाहेश्वरम्: (the vow) of Umā and Maheśvara
• उमामाहेश्वरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उमा-माहेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—द्वन्द्व (उमा + माहेश्वरः) विशेषणरूपेण व्रतस्य

• व्रतम्: vow, observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

Speaker

Suta (summarizing the Narada Purana’s contents in an anukramanika-style chapter)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Umā–Māheśvara Vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhadrāyu
• Bhasma
• Śabara
• Umā
• Maheśvara (Śiva)

FAQs

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

This verse functions as an anukramanika (contents-list): it signals that the text includes specific mahatmyas and vratas—especially the sanctifying power of bhasma and the devotional discipline of the Umā–Māheśvara Vrata.

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

By pointing to vows (vrata) and sacred narratives (ākhyāna), it frames bhakti as practiced devotion—remembering divine deeds and undertaking disciplined observances connected with Umā and Maheśvara.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical emphasis is ritual discipline (vrata-vidhi) and puranic liturgy (kīrtana of māhātmya); it is not a technical Vedanga passage (like vyākaraṇa or jyotiṣa), but it supports dharma through prescribed observances.