Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

The Narration of the Brāhma Purāṇa’s Account

Brāhma Purāṇānukramaṇikā

Devanagari script

अत्रैव कृष्णचरितं विस्तरात्समुदीरितम् । वर्णनं यमलोकस्य पितृश्राद्धविधिस्तथा ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

atraiva kṛṣṇacaritaṃ vistarātsamudīritam | varṇanaṃ yamalokasya pitṛśrāddhavidhistathā || 40 ||

Translation

Ici même, la vie et les hauts faits de Kṛṣṇa sont racontés en détail ; de même s’y trouvent la description du royaume de Yama (Yama-loka) et la procédure prescrite des rites śrāddha pour les ancêtres.

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• कृष्णचरितम्: Krishna’s deeds/life
• कृष्णचरितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa + carita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (kṛṣṇasya caritam = deeds/life of Krishna)

• विस्तरात्: in detail/at length
• विस्तरात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source; adverbial)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vistara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः (‘at length/in detail’)

• समुदीरितम्: has been narrated/proclaimed
• समुदीरितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ud-√īr (ईर् धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः (‘has been proclaimed/narrated’)

• वर्णनम्: description
• वर्णनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यमलोकस्य: of Yama’s world
• यमलोकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-समासः (yamasya lokaḥ)

• पितृश्राद्धविधिः: the rite/procedure of ancestral śrāddha
• पितृश्राद्धविधिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; item listed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ + śrāddha + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (pitṝṇāṃ śrāddhasya vidhiḥ = rule for ancestral śrāddha)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

Speaker

Suta (Anukramanika-style summary narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Yama
• Pitrs (ancestors)

FAQs

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

It signals that this section preserves both bhakti-oriented sacred history (Kṛṣṇa’s deeds) and dharma-oriented guidance (Yamaloka and śrāddha), linking devotion, afterlife accountability, and ancestral duty.

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

By highlighting “Kṛṣṇa-carita” as a detailed narration, it points to śravaṇa (devotional listening) and remembrance of Kṛṣṇa’s līlā as a central bhakti practice within the Purāṇic framework.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (vidhi) for pitṛ-śrāddha is emphasized—practical dharma/kalpa-style guidance on how ancestral offerings are to be performed according to injunction.