Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

The Description of the Index (Anukramaṇikā) of the Padma Purāṇa

Devanagari script

पितृशुश्रूषणाख्यानं नहुषस्य कथा ततः । ययातिचरितं चैव गुरुतीर्थनिरूपणम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

pitṛśuśrūṣaṇākhyānaṃ nahuṣasya kathā tataḥ | yayāticaritaṃ caiva gurutīrthanirūpaṇam || 10 ||

Translation

Vient ensuite le récit du service dévot rendu aux Pitṛ, les ancêtres; puis l’histoire de Nahuṣa; de même la vie de Yayāti; et la description du lieu saint de pèlerinage nommé Guru-tīrtha.

Word by Word

• पितृ-शुश्रूषण-आख्यानम्: the narrative of service to the Pitṛs
• पितृ-शुश्रूषण-आख्यानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + शुश्रूषण (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पितॄणां शुश्रूषणस्य आख्यानम्)

• नहुषस्य: of Nahuṣa
• नहुषस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नहुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• कथा: the story
• कथा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) = thereafter/then

• ययाति-चरितम्: the deeds/life of Yayāti
• ययाति-चरितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ययाति (प्रातिपदिक) + चरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ययातेः चरितम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• गुरु-तीर्थ-निरूपणम्: the description of the guru-tīrtha
• गुरु-तीर्थ-निरूपणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + निरूपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (गुरुतीर्थस्य निरूपणम्)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada Purana’s contents in an anukramanika-style summary)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs
• Nahusha
• Yayati
• Guru-tirtha

FAQs

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

This verse functions as an anukramanika (table-of-contents) marker, highlighting key dharmic themes—service to the Pitṛs (ancestral duty), instructive royal narratives (Nahuṣa and Yayāti), and the sanctifying role of tīrthas (Guru-tīrtha) as supports for righteous living.

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

Indirectly: it points to dharma-supporting practices that traditionally strengthen sattva and devotion—honoring lineage through Pitṛ-dharma, learning humility and restraint through exemplary kingly stories, and seeking purification and remembrance of the Divine through tīrtha-yātrā.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is taught in this single verse; however, the mention of Pitṛ practices and tīrtha description implies applied ritual knowledge (kalpa/ācāra)—how duties and pilgrimages are to be performed according to dharma.