Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

The Description of the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa’s Table of Contents

Anukramaṇī

Devanagari script

काश्यपेयानुकथनं ऋषिवंशनिरूपणम् । पितृकल्पानुकथनं श्राद्धकल्पस्ततः परम् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

kāśyapeyānukathanaṃ ṛṣivaṃśanirūpaṇam | pitṛkalpānukathanaṃ śrāddhakalpastataḥ param || 15 ||

Translation

Vient ensuite le récit des descendants de Kaśyapa, l’exposé des lignées des ṛṣi, l’explication des rites destinés aux Pitṛ (mânes ancestraux), puis les prescriptions du Śrāddha.

Word by Word

• kāśyapeya-anukathanam: the subsequent narration of the Kāśyapeyas
• kāśyapeya-anukathanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāśyapeya (प्रातिपदिक) + anukathana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘काश्यपेयानाम् अनुकथनम्’

• ṛṣi-vaṃśa-nirūpaṇam: the exposition of the lineage of sages
• ṛṣi-vaṃśa-nirūpaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + vaṃśa (प्रातिपदिक) + nirūpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘ऋषीणां वंशस्य निरूपणम्’

• pitṛ-kalpa-anukathanam: the narration of the Pitṛ-kalpa
• pitṛ-kalpa-anukathanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + kalpa (प्रातिपदिक) + anukathana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘पितृकल्पस्य अनुकथनम्’

• śrāddha-kalpaḥ: the Śrāddha-kalpa (ritual section on śrāddha)
• śrāddha-kalpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक) + kalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘श्राद्धस्य कल्पः’

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तरार्थक (thereafter)

• param: next/further
• param: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial use: ‘further/next’)

Speaker

Narada (summarizing the Narada Purana’s contents to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kashyapa
• Pitrs
• Rishis

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic continuity: honoring ṛṣi lineages and performing Pitṛ-related rites (Śrāddha) sustains gratitude, lineage harmony, and sacred order (dharma).

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

Indirectly: by placing Śrāddha and Pitṛ-karmas within the Purana’s sacred framework, it shows that devotion is supported by disciplined dharma—worship is not isolated from duties to sages, elders, and ancestors.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is foregrounded—specifically Pitṛ-kalpa and Śrāddha-kalpa, i.e., the structured rules for ancestral rites and offerings.