Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

The Anukramaṇī (Summary/Index) of the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa

Devanagari script

हरिश्चंद्रकथा पुण्या युद्धमाडीबकाभिधम् । पितापुत्रसमाख्यानं दत्तात्रेयकथा ततः ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

hariścaṃdrakathā puṇyā yuddhamāḍībakābhidham | pitāputrasamākhyānaṃ dattātreyakathā tataḥ || 5 ||

Translation

Puis vient le récit sacré d’Hariścandra ; l’histoire de la bataille appelée Āḍībaka ; le récit d’un père et de son fils ; et ensuite, l’histoire de Dattātreya.

Word by Word

• hariścandra-kathā: the story of Hariścandra
• hariścandra-kathā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hariścandra (प्रातिपदिक) + kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• puṇyā: holy/meritorious
• puṇyā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम् (कथायाः)

• yuddham: the battle
• yuddham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• āḍībaka-abhidham: called ‘Āḍībaka’
• āḍībaka-abhidham: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āḍībaka (प्रातिपदिक) + abhidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम् (युद्धस्य)

• pitā-putra-samākhyānam: the narrative of father and son
• pitā-putra-samākhyānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक) + samākhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपदयोः (पिता+पुत्र) तत्पुरुष-सम्बन्धेन ‘समाख्यानम्’

• dattātreya-kathā: the story of Dattātreya
• dattātreya-kathā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dattātreya (प्रातिपदिक) + kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (अनन्तरार्थक)

Speaker

Narada (cataloguing the contents to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Harishchandra
• Dattatreya

FAQs

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

This verse functions as an anukramaṇikā (table-of-contents) marker, highlighting that the Purāṇa teaches dharma through exemplary narratives—such as Hariścandra’s truthfulness and Dattātreya’s spiritual insight—so that hearing/remembering them becomes meritorious.

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

By pointing to sacred kathās (holy narratives) as a means of purification, it supports the Purāṇic bhakti method of śravaṇa (devotional listening) and smaraṇa (remembrance) of virtuous lives and enlightened sages.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it is a structural catalogue of topics. Practically, it reflects the Purāṇic method of organizing instruction through narrative sections for study and recitation.