Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

The Narration of the Brāhma Purāṇa’s Account

Brāhma Purāṇānukramaṇikā

Devanagari script

तद्वै सर्वपुराणाऽग्र्यं धर्मकामार्थमोक्षदम् । नानाख्यानेतिहासाढ्यं दशसाहस्रमुच्यते ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

tadvai sarvapurāṇā'gryaṃ dharmakāmārthamokṣadam | nānākhyānetihāsāḍhyaṃ daśasāhasramucyate || 31 ||

Translation

En vérité, ce Purāṇa est le premier parmi tous les Purāṇa, dispensant dharma, kāma, artha et mokṣa. Riche de nombreux récits et d’histoires sacrées, on dit qu’il compte dix mille vers.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (Purana)
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (निपात/अलंकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपातः (emphasis)

• सर्वपुराणाग्र्यम्: the foremost among all Puranas
• सर्वपुराणाग्र्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-पुराण-अग्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता-विशेषण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘पुराणानां अग्र्यम्’ + ‘सर्व’ विशेषणम्

• धर्मकामार्थमोक्षदम्: bestowing dharma, kama, artha, and moksha
• धर्मकामार्थमोक्षदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-काम-अर्थ-मोक्ष-द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता-विशेषण), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘धर्मं कामं अर्थं मोक्षं च ददाति’ (giver of dharma, desire, wealth, liberation)

• नाना: various
• नाना: Sambandha (विशेषण-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषणार्थक निपातः (various)

• आख्यान: narratives
• आख्यान: Sambandha (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (समासपूर्वपद), बहुवचन (अर्थतः)

• इतिहास: histories, legends
• इतिहास: Sambandha (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतिहास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (समासपूर्वपद), बहुवचन (अर्थतः)

• आढ्यम्: rich/abundant (with)
• आढ्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता-विशेषण), एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः—‘आख्यान-इतिहासैः आढ्यम्’ (rich with)

• दशसाहस्रम्: ten-thousand (in extent)
• दशसाहस्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश-साहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता-विशेषण/संख्या), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (ten-thousand)

• उच्यते: is called/said
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive)

Speaker

Suta

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It declares the Narada Purana as pre-eminent and spiritually complete, presenting it as a scripture capable of guiding all four puruṣārthas—dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa—through its teachings and narratives.

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

While bhakti is not named explicitly here, the verse frames the Purana as a comprehensive means to moksha; in the Narada Purana this completeness is typically fulfilled through Vishnu-centered devotion supported by dharma and right living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Chandas, Nirukta, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is directly referenced; the emphasis is on the Purana’s structure—its many ākhyānas/itihāsas and its stated extent of ten thousand verses.