Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

The Description of the Anukramaṇikā (Chapter-wise Summary) of the Varāha Purāṇa

Devanagari script

पठतां श्रृण्वतां चैव भगवद्भक्तिवर्धनम् । कांचनं गरुड कृत्वा तिलधेनुसमन्वितम् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

paṭhatāṃ śrṛṇvatāṃ caiva bhagavadbhaktivardhanam | kāṃcanaṃ garuḍa kṛtvā tiladhenusamanvitam || 15 ||

Translation

ഇത് പാരായണം ചെയ്യുന്നവർക്കും ശ്രവിക്കുന്നവർക്കും ഭഗവദ്ഭക്തി വർധിക്കുന്നു; അതിനാൽ സ്വർണ്ണഗരുഡം നിർമ്മിച്ച്, അതോടൊപ്പം തിലധേനുവും ദാനമായി അർപ്പിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• पठताम्: of those who recite/read
• पठताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले (present active participle); पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; genitive plural ‘of those who read’

• शृण्वताम्: of those who listen
• शृण्वताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्; genitive plural ‘of those who listen’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थकः

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थकः (particle: indeed/only)

• भगवद्भक्तिवर्धनम्: that which increases devotion to the Lord
• भगवद्भक्तिवर्धनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: भगवतः भक्ति-वर्धनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• काञ्चनम्: golden (made of gold)
• काञ्चनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; qualifying an implied noun (e.g., दानम्/पुस्तकम्)

• गरुड: O Garuḍa
• गरुड: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; vocative singular

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावः (gerund/absolutive): having made/done

• तिलधेनुसमन्वितम्: accompanied by a sesame-cow (gift)
• तिलधेनुसमन्वितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक) + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (सह/युक्तार्थः: तिलधेनुभिः समन्वितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘endowed with sesame-cows (gift)’

Speaker

Narada (in a didactic summary context within Book 1.4)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan (Vishnu)
• Garuda

FAQs

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

It links śravaṇa (listening) and pāṭha (recitation) with the direct growth of bhagavad-bhakti, and pairs that inner devotion with an outward act of dāna (gift), symbolically offered through Garuḍa (Viṣṇu’s emblem) and the tila-dhenu.

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

Bhakti is strengthened through regular engagement with sacred narration—hearing and reciting—which are classic bhakti-limbs; the verse also shows bhakti as practical and embodied, expressed through reverential offerings connected to Viṣṇu (Garuḍa).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa-oriented practice) is implied: prescribed dāna items (tila-dhenu, golden Garuḍa) and the phala of śravaṇa/pāṭha reflect the Purāṇic extension of Vedic ritual logic into devotional contexts.