Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

ततो मन्वंतराख्यानं पृथक्पृथग्विभागशः । पित्राख्यानं वर्णधर्मा द्रव्यशुद्धिः समर्पणम् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

tato manvaṃtarākhyānaṃ pṛthakpṛthagvibhāgaśaḥ | pitrākhyānaṃ varṇadharmā dravyaśuddhiḥ samarpaṇam || 11 ||

Translation

次いで、マヌヴァンタラ（諸マヌ期）の物語が、区分ごとに別々に整えて説かれる。さらに、ピトリ（祖霊）の説話、ヴァルナの義務（ヴァルナ・ダルマ）、儀礼の資具の浄化、そして正しい奉献（サマルパナ）が語られる。

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) / Kālādhi-karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of sequence; meaning 'thereafter/then'

• manvantara-ākhyānam: the account of the Manvantaras
• manvantara-ākhyānam: Karta (कर्ता) / Uddeshya (उद्देश्य) in list
• Type: Noun
• Root: manvantara (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी/संबन्ध-तत्पुरुष: 'manvantarasya ākhyānam'

• pṛthak: separately
• pṛthak: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb meaning 'separately'

• pṛthak: each separately
• pṛthak: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; repetition for emphasis (यमक/पुनरुक्ति)

• vibhāgaśaḥ: section-wise / by divisions
• vibhāgaśaḥ: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vibhāga (प्रातिपदिक) + śas (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Avyaya formed with -śas (शस्) meaning 'according to/by way of'; 'in divisions/section-wise'

• pitṛ-ākhyānam: the account of the Pitṛs (ancestors)
• pitṛ-ākhyānam: Karta (कर्ता) / Uddeshya (उद्देश्य) in list
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'pitṝṇām ākhyānam'

• varṇa-dharmāḥ: duties of the social classes (varṇas)
• varṇa-dharmāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Uddeshya (उद्देश्य) in list
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative plural (प्रथमा बहुवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'varṇānāṃ dharmāḥ'

• dravya-śuddhiḥ: purification of substances
• dravya-śuddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Uddeshya (उद्देश्य) in list
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya (प्रातिपदिक) + śuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative singular (प्रथमा एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'dravyasya śuddhiḥ'

• samarpaṇam: offering/dedication
• samarpaṇam: Karta (कर्ता) / Uddeshya (उद्देश्य) in list
• Type: Noun
• Root: sam-arp (धातु) + lyuṭ/ana (कृत्) → samarpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative singular; action-noun (भाववाचक) from √arp 'to offer/dedicate' with upasarga sam-

Speaker

Suta (narrating an outline of topics; Anukramanika-style summary within Book 1.4)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Manu
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It functions as a topical index: it frames dharma as both cosmic order (Manvantaras) and lived practice (Pitṛ obligations, varṇa-dharma, purity of ritual substances, and correct offering), showing that right worship is grounded in right order and right conduct.

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

By highlighting “samarpaṇa” (dedicated offering), it points to devotion expressed through properly consecrated acts—offerings made with purity (dravya-śuddhi) and dharmic alignment, which is a key bhakti principle in Purāṇic practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual correctness and purification of materials directly connect to Kalpa (procedural ritual science) and Śikṣā/Vyākaraṇa indirectly through correct recitation and formulation of offerings; the verse signals the text’s concern with methodical, rule-based worship.