Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

पुराणं लेखयित्वा वै ज्येष्ठ्यां स्वर्णाब्जसंयुतम् । यः प्रदद्यात्सुसत्कृत्य पुराणज्ञाय मानद ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

purāṇaṃ lekhayitvā vai jyeṣṭhyāṃ svarṇābjasaṃyutam | yaḥ pradadyātsusatkṛtya purāṇajñāya mānada || 38 ||

Translation

Ô dispensateur d’honneur, quiconque fait recopier un Purāṇa et, au jour de pleine lune de Jyeṣṭhā, l’offre avec grand respect—orné d’or et d’un lotus—à un connaisseur des Purāṇas, obtient un immense mérite religieux.

Word by Word

• पुराणम्: the Purāṇa (text)
• पुराणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• लेखयित्वा: having written (or had written)
• लेखयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative sense: having caused to be written / having written)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed)

• ज्येष्ठ्याम्: in (the month) Jyeṣṭhā
• ज्येष्ठ्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; अधिकरणम् (in the month Jyeṣṭhā / on Jyeṣṭhā)

• स्वर्ण-अब्ज-संयुतम्: adorned with a golden lotus
• स्वर्ण-अब्ज-संयुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अब्ज (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्वर्णेन अब्जेन च संयुतम् / स्वर्णाब्जैः संयुतम्)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• प्रदद्यात्: should give
• प्रदद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• सु-सत्कृत्य: having duly honored (him)
• सु-सत्कृत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + सत्कृत्य (√कृ; क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive) with उपपद 'सु' (well); manner adverbial

• पुराण-ज्ञाय: to a knower of the Purāṇa
• पुराण-ज्ञाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पुराणं जानाति इति)

• मानद: O giver of honor (O Māṇada)
• मानद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; संबोधन-प्रयोगः

Speaker

Sage Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Purana
• Jyeshtha (Purnima)

FAQs

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

It teaches that donating sacred knowledge is a high form of dāna: commissioning a Purāṇa manuscript and gifting it with reverence to a qualified knower generates exceptional puṇya and supports the preservation and transmission of dharma.

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

By honoring Purāṇic scripture and a learned devotee/teacher, the giver serves Bhagavān through śāstra-sevā and guru-satkāra—devotional acts that strengthen faith and right understanding.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalā/ritual timing and calendrical observance are implied through the specification of Jyeṣṭha Pūrṇimā (a time-based rite), reflecting practical application of jyotiṣa-style tithi/month reckoning within dharmic practice.