Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

The Exposition of the Index (Anukramaṇī) of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata

Devanagari script

कैशोरं मथुरास्थानं यौवनं द्वारकास्थितिः । भूभारहरणं चात्र निरोधे दशमः स्मृतः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

kaiśoraṃ mathurāsthānaṃ yauvanaṃ dvārakāsthitiḥ | bhūbhāraharaṇaṃ cātra nirodhe daśamaḥ smṛtaḥ || 17 ||

Translation

À l’âge de kaiśora (l’adolescence), Il demeure à Mathurā ; dans la jeunesse (yauvana), Il s’établit à Dvārakā. Et l’on y enseigne aussi l’allègement du fardeau de la terre. Ainsi, dans le thème du nirodha (retrait/dissolution), la dixième section est tenue en mémoire pour ces sujets.

Word by Word

• कैशोरम्: adolescence
• कैशोरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैशोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘किशोरावस्था’ अर्थे

• मथुरा-स्थानम्: residence in Mathura
• मथुरा-स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मथुरा (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (मथुरायां स्थानम्)

• यौवनम्: youth
• यौवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यौवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• द्वारका-स्थितिः: dwelling in Dvaraka
• द्वारका-स्थितिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक; √स्था (धातु))
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (द्वारकायां स्थितिः)

• भू-भार-हरणम्: removal of the earth's burden
• भू-भार-हरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक) + भार (प्रातिपदिक) + हरण (प्रातिपदिक; √हृ (धातु) से भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भूभारस्य हरणम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अत्र: here, in this (section)
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place: here)

• निरोधे: in the conclusion/cessation (section)
• निरोधे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; ‘निरोध’ = उपसंहार/समापन (contextual)

• दशमः: the tenth
• दशमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषणम्

• स्मृतः: is remembered/considered
• स्मृतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृत (कृदन्त; √स्मृ (धातु), क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘मन्यते/उच्यते’ अर्थे

Speaker

Narada (summarizing Purāṇic subject-matter to the Sanatkumāra tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Mathura
• Dvaraka
• Bhumi (Earth)

FAQs

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

It frames Krishna’s life-phases (Mathurā and Dvārakā) as purposeful divine action—especially the relief of the earth’s burden—so remembrance of His līlā becomes a theological summary of how Bhagavān restores dharma within Purāṇic cosmology.

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

By highlighting Krishna’s sacred abodes and deeds, the verse invites devotees to practice smaraṇa (devotional remembrance) of His Mathurā and Dvārakā līlās, a central bhakti method repeatedly validated in Purāṇic teaching.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught directly; the verse functions as an anukramaṇikā-style thematic index, useful for structured study and recitation by locating key narrative topics (nirodha, avatāra-kārya, and tīrtha/abode references).