Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

The Outline (Anukramaṇī) of the Viṣṇu Purāṇa

Devanagari script

पातालनरकाख्यानं सप्तस्वर्गनिरूपणम् । सूर्यादिवारकथनं पृथग्लक्षणसंयुतम् ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

pātālanarakākhyānaṃ saptasvarganirūpaṇam | sūryādivārakathanaṃ pṛthaglakṣaṇasaṃyutam || 6 ||

Translation

Il contient le récit de Pātāla et des enfers, l’exposé des sept cieux, ainsi que la description du Soleil et des autres astres, avec l’explication des jours de la semaine, chacun selon ses caractéristiques propres.

Word by Word

• पातालनरकाख्यानम्: account of Pātāla and Naraka (netherworld/hell)
• पातालनरकाख्यानम्: कर्म (listed item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल + नरक + आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• सप्तस्वर्गनिरूपणम्: description of the seven heavens
• सप्तस्वर्गनिरूपणम्: कर्म (listed item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त + स्वर्ग + निरूपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (numeral compound)

• सूर्यादिवारकथनम्: discussion of days (vāra) beginning with Sunday
• सूर्यादिवारकथनम्: कर्म (listed item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य + आदि + वार + कथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पृथक्: distinctly
• पृथक्: विशेषण (adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: separately/distinctly)

• लक्षणसंयुतम्: endowed with distinct characteristics
• लक्षणसंयुतम्: विशेषण (to कथनम्/निरूपणम् as listed content)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्षण + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक; √युज् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘संयुत’ = युक्त (endowed)

Speaker

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

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Surya

FAQs

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

This verse signals a cosmological teaching: the Purana distinguishes realms (Pātāla, Naraka, Svarga) and explains their defining features, encouraging ethical living by showing the consequences and higher aims reflected in the universe’s structure.

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

Indirectly, it supports Bhakti by framing the cosmos and time (vāras) as ordered under divine governance; such knowledge is traditionally used to align one’s worship, vows, and holy observances with sacred time and purpose.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology/astronomy) is implied through the mention of the Sun and weekdays (vāras), pointing to calendrical and time-keeping knowledge used for planning rites, vratas, and auspicious observances.