Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Manvantaras and Indras; Sudharmā’s Liberation through Viṣṇu-Pradakṣiṇā; Supremacy of Hari-Bhakti

Devanagari script

यामा इति समाख्याता देवाः स्वायंभुवेंऽतरे । शचीपतिः समाख्यातस्तेषामिंद्रो महापतिः ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

yāmā iti samākhyātā devāḥ svāyaṃbhuveṃ'tare | śacīpatiḥ samākhyātasteṣāmiṃdro mahāpatiḥ || 24 ||

Translation

Dans le Manvantara de Svāyambhuva, les dieux étaient connus sous le nom de Yāmas ; et Śacīpati, l’époux de Śacī, fut renommé comme leur Indra, le grand chef.

Word by Word

• यामाः: Yāmas (a class of gods)
• यामाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• इति: thus/called
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक निपात (quotative particle)

• समाख्याताः: are called
• समाख्याताः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-ख्या (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); भूतकृदन्त/क्त-प्रत्ययान्त: 'are named/called'

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• स्वायंभुवे: in (the time of) Svāyambhuva (Manu)
• स्वायंभुवे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वायंभुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अन्तरे: in the period/within the manvantara
• अन्तरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); 'in the interval/period'

• शचीपतिः: Śacīpati (Indra)
• शचीपतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शची + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('husband of Śacī')

• समाख्यातः: is called
• समाख्यातः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-ख्या (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृदन्त/क्त-प्रत्ययान्त: 'is called'

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• महापतिः: the great lord
• महापतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः ('great lord')

Speaker

Narada (narrating Purāṇic genealogy/Manvantara details in discourse with Sanatkumāra tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Yama (Yāmas as a deity-class name)
• Svayambhuva Manu
• Shachi
• Indra (Shachipati)

FAQs

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

It situates spiritual history within cosmic time (Manvantara), showing that even divine offices like Indra change by cycle—encouraging detachment and alignment with eternal Dharma beyond temporary status.

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

By highlighting the cyclical, changeable nature of celestial power, it indirectly points the seeker toward steadier refuge—Bhakti to the Supreme (commonly taught in the Narada Purana as devotion to Vishnu/Narayana) rather than reliance on transient cosmic roles.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It supports Purāṇic time-reckoning used alongside Jyotiṣa (Vedic astronomy/astrology): identifying Manvantaras and their rulers helps frame calendrical and cosmological understanding employed in Dharma and ritual contexts.