Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Kūrmāpurāṇa-Anukramaṇikā

Index/Summary of the Kūrma Purāṇa

Devanagari script

एतत्कूर्मपुराणं तु चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदम् । पठतां श्रृण्वतां नॄणां सर्वोत्कृष्टगतिप्रदम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

etatkūrmapurāṇaṃ tu caturvargaphalapradam | paṭhatāṃ śrṛṇvatāṃ nṝṇāṃ sarvotkṛṣṭagatipradam || 23 ||

Translation

ಈ ಕೂರ್ಮಪುರಾಣವು ಚತುರ್ವರ್ಗಫಲಪ್ರದವಾಗಿದೆ; ಇದನ್ನು ಪಠಿಸುವವರಿಗೂ ಭಕ್ತಿಯಿಂದ ಶ್ರವಣಿಸುವವರಿಗೂ ಸರ್ವೋತ್ತಮ ಪರಮಗತಿಯನ್ನು ನೀಡುತ್ತದೆ।

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally)

• कूर्मपुराणम्: the Kūrma Purāṇa
• कूर्मपुराणम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म + पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): कूर्मस्य पुराणम्

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थे (but/indeed)

• चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदम्: bestowing the fruits of the four aims of life
• चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier of कूर्मपुराणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + वर्ग + फल + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: चतुर्वर्गस्य फलम् → तस्य प्रदम् (giver of the fruit of the four aims)

• पठताम्: of those who read
• पठताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation: of the readers)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle) ‘पठत्’ का षष्ठी (6th case) बहुवचन; ‘of those who read’

• शृण्वताम्: of those who listen
• शृण्वताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation: of the listeners)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle) ‘शृण्वत्’ का षष्ठी (6th case) बहुवचन; ‘of those who listen’

• नॄणाम्: of men/people
• नॄणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive: of men/people)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन

• सर्वोत्कृष्टगतिप्रदम्: granting the सर्वोत्तम (supreme) destination
• सर्वोत्कृष्टगतिप्रदम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier of कूर्मपुराणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + उत्कृष्ट + गति + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: सर्वेषु उत्कृष्टा या गतिः तस्याः प्रदम् (giver of the सर्वोत्तम-गति)

Speaker

Sage Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition; phala-shruti style summary)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It functions as a phala-śruti, declaring that reading or hearing the Kūrma Purāṇa yields comprehensive benefit—culminating in the सर्वोत्तम गति (supreme spiritual attainment).

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

By emphasizing śravaṇa (listening) and pāṭha (recitation/reading) as potent devotional practices, it aligns with bhakti’s core method: repeated hearing and contemplation of sacred narratives leading to higher gati.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the practical discipline of svādhyāya (scriptural recitation/reading) and śravaṇa as a sādhana; no specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is explicitly taught in this verse.