Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Matsya-purāṇa Anukramaṇikā

Synopsis / Table of Contents

Devanagari script

पितृप्रवरमाहात्म्यं मन्वंतरविनिर्णयः । चतुर्युगस्य संभूतिर्युगधर्मनिरूपणम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

pitṛpravaramāhātmyaṃ manvaṃtaravinirṇayaḥ | caturyugasya saṃbhūtiryugadharmanirūpaṇam || 18 ||

Translation

Il expose la grandeur des Pitṛ et des pravara (lignées ancestrales), fixe les divisions des Manvantara, explique l’origine des quatre Yuga et développe le dharma propre à chaque Yuga.

Word by Word

• पितृ-प्रवर-माहात्म्यम्: the greatness of the foremost ancestors
• पितृ-प्रवर-माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म) / Topic (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक) + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): पितॄणां प्रवरस्य माहात्म्यम्

• मन्वन्तर-विनिर्णयः: the determination/decision regarding the Manvantaras
• मन्वन्तर-विनिर्णयः: Karta (कर्ता) / Topic (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्वन्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + विनिर्णय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: मन्वन्तरस्य विनिर्णयः

• चतुर्-युगस्य: of the four-yuga cycle
• चतुर्-युगस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः: चत्वारि युगानि यस्मिन् (चतुर्युगम्) तस्य

• सम्भूतिः: origin; coming into being
• सम्भूतिः: Karta (कर्ता) / Topic (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + भू (धातु) → सम्भूति (प्रातिपदिक, भाववाचक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• युग-धर्म-निरूपणम्: description of the duties/laws of the yugas
• युग-धर्म-निरूपणम्: Karma (कर्म) / Topic (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + निरूपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: युगधर्मस्य निरूपणम्

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Purāṇic outline; within the broader dialogue tradition attributed to Nārada’s transmission)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Manu
• Yugas

FAQs

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

It functions as an anukramaṇikā (topic-index) verse, signaling that the Purāṇa teaches cosmic time (Manvantaras and Yugas) alongside lineage sanctity (pitṛ–pravara), framing dharma as time-sensitive and tradition-rooted.

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

By highlighting yuga-dharma, it implies that spiritual practice—including devotion—must be aligned with the age’s prescribed dharma; bhakti is thereby presented as a disciplined, era-appropriate observance rather than a vague sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to calendrical and epochal reckoning (useful for Jyotiṣa-style time frameworks) and to pravara/ancestral identification used in ritual contexts—both supporting correct dharma-performance across time and lineage.