Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

The Exposition of the Table of Contents (Anukramaṇī) of the Agni Purāṇa

Devanagari script

देवासुरविमर्दाख्या ह्यायुर्वेदनिरूपणम् । गजादीनां चिकित्सा च तेषां शांतिस्ततः परम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

devāsuravimardākhyā hyāyurvedanirūpaṇam | gajādīnāṃ cikitsā ca teṣāṃ śāṃtistataḥ param || 18 ||

Translation

Il renferme la section nommée « Devasura-vimarda », ainsi qu’un exposé de l’Āyurveda. Il décrit aussi les soins médicaux des éléphants et d’autres animaux; puis viennent les rites de śānti pour les apaiser, tenus pour le remède suprême.

Word by Word

• देव-असुर-विमर्द-आख्या: named 'Devasura-vimarda'
• देव-असुर-विमर्द-आख्या: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक) + विमर्द (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: यस्याः नाम 'देवासुरविमर्द' सा (अध्याय/विद्या)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle) — emphasis/indeed

• आयुर्वेद-निरूपणम्: exposition of Ayurveda
• आयुर्वेद-निरूपणम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + निरूपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: आयुर्वेदस्य निरूपणम्

• गज-आदीनाम्: of elephants and others
• गज-आदीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: गजादीनां (elephants etc.)

• चिकित्सा: treatment/medicine
• चिकित्सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिकित्सा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• शान्तिः: pacification/appeasement rites
• शान्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Sequencing)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण

• परम्: next/further
• परम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Sequencing)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्राय (indeclinable usage as adverb): 'further/next/after that'

Speaker

Sage Narada (continuing an anukramanika-style enumeration to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Asuras
• Ayurveda
• Gaja (elephants)

FAQs

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

The verse frames healing as both practical (Āyurveda and animal treatment) and sacred (śānti rites), presenting well-being as sustained through knowledge, right action, and ritual pacification.

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

Bhakti is implied through śānti as a dharmic, God-oriented remedy—afflictions are not met only with medicine but also with reverent rites that align the devotee with cosmic order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Applied śānti-karma (pacificatory ritual procedure) and medical science (Āyurveda), including specialized veterinary care such as gaja-cikitsā, are highlighted as practical disciplines within the Purāṇic knowledge-system.