Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

Kūrmāpurāṇa-Anukramaṇikā

Index/Summary of the Kūrma Purāṇa

Devanagari script

कालसंख्या समासेन लयांते स्तवनं विभोः । ततः संक्षेपतः सर्गः शांकरं चरितं तथा ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

kālasaṃkhyā samāsena layāṃte stavanaṃ vibhoḥ | tataḥ saṃkṣepataḥ sargaḥ śāṃkaraṃ caritaṃ tathā || 6 ||

Translation

En bref, on y décrit le calcul du temps ; puis l’on y évoque la dissolution à la fin des âges, avec un hymne de louange au Seigneur qui pénètre tout. Ensuite, la création est résumée, et l’on rapporte aussi le récit sacré de Śaṅkara (Śiva).

Word by Word

• kāla-saṃkhyā: time-calculation
• kāla-saṃkhyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1), Singular; 'enumeration of time'

• samāsena: in brief / by summary
• samāsena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3), Singular; adverbial instrumental: 'briefly/in summary'

• laya-ante: at the end of dissolution
• laya-ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laya (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7), Singular; 'at the end of dissolution'

• stavanam: praise (hymn)
• stavanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √stu (स्तु धातु) → stavana (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative (1), Singular; action-noun 'praise/hymn'

• vibhoḥ: of the Lord
• vibhoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6), Singular

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रम/अनन्तर) 'then/thereafter'

• saṃkṣepataḥ: briefly
• saṃkṣepataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saṃkṣepa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त) adverb: 'briefly'

• sargaḥ: creation / emanation
• sargaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular

• śāṃkaram: pertaining to Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• śāṃkaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative/Accusative (1/2), Singular; adjective qualifying 'caritam'

• caritam: the legend/deeds
• caritam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √car चर् धातु, क्त)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative/Accusative (1/2), Singular; 'deed/legend'

• tathā: also
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle/adverb 'also/likewise'

Speaker

Sūta (as part of the Anukramanika-style summary narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vibhu (the All-pervading Lord)
• Shankara (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It frames the Purāṇic teaching method: understanding time (kāla), dissolution (laya/pralaya), and creation (sarga) is paired with devotion through praise (stavana) of the Supreme, showing that cosmology is meant to culminate in reverence and insight.

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

Even while listing technical topics like time-reckoning and cosmic cycles, the verse explicitly inserts “stavanaṃ vibhoḥ” (hymn to the Lord), indicating that knowledge of the universe is integrated with bhakti—praise and remembrance of the All-pervading.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to kāla-saṃkhyā (time calculation), which aligns with Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology/astronomy) concepts used for calendrics and cosmic cycles, though the verse itself functions as a contents-summary rather than a technical manual.