Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Daśamī-vrata: Observances for the Bright Tenth Day Through the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

मत्स्यं कूर्मं वराहं च नरसिंहं त्रिविक्रमम् । रामं रामं च कृष्णं च बौद्धं कल्किनमेव च ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

matsyaṃ kūrmaṃ varāhaṃ ca narasiṃhaṃ trivikramam | rāmaṃ rāmaṃ ca kṛṣṇaṃ ca bauddhaṃ kalkinameva ca || 16 ||

Translation

Il se manifesta en Matsya, Kūrma et Varāha ; en Narasiṃha et Trivikrama ; en Rāma (Paraśurāma) et Rāma (Rāmacandra) ; en Kṛṣṇa ; en le Buddha ; et aussi en Kalkin.

Word by Word

• मत्स्यम्: Matsya
• मत्स्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सूची/कर्म (as object of worship)

• कूर्मम्: Kūrma
• कूर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वराहम्: Varāha
• वराहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• नरसिंहम्: Narasimha
• नरसिंहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (नरः सिंह इव)

• त्रिविक्रमम्: Trivikrama (Vāmana)
• त्रिविक्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (त्रीणि विक्रमाणि यस्य/त्रिविक्रमः)

• रामम्: Rāma (Paraśurāma)
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रामम्: Rāma (Rāghava)
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• कृष्णम्: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• बौद्धम्: Buddha
• बौद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बौद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कल्किनम्: Kalkin
• कल्किनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्किन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (in-stem)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle of emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Narada (as narrator/teacher in the anukramanika-style listing of avatāras, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Daśāvatāra-vrata (content focus: objects of worship)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Matsya
• Kurma
• Varaha
• Narasimha
• Trivikrama (Vamana)
• Parashurama
• Rama (Raghava)
• Krishna
• Buddha
• Kalki

FAQs

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

It presents a concise remembrance (smaraṇa) of Viṣṇu’s avatāras, encouraging devotion by contemplating how the Lord repeatedly descends to protect dharma and guide beings across ages.

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

By listing the avatāras, the verse supplies a ready framework for nāma-smaraṇa (remembering divine names/forms). Bhakti is strengthened through repeated recollection of the Lord’s saving acts embodied in each avatāra.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a technical Vedāṅga passage, it supports purāṇic anukramaṇikā-style cataloging used in teaching and recitation—helpful for structured memorization and liturgical chanting aligned with correct pronunciation (śikṣā).