Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 143

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

हाटकेश्वरमाहात्म्ये वृत्रासुरवधस्तथा । नागबिलं शंखतीर्थमचलेश्वरवर्णनम् ॥ १४३ ॥

Transliteration

hāṭakeśvaramāhātmye vṛtrāsuravadhastathā | nāgabilaṃ śaṃkhatīrthamacaleśvaravarṇanam || 143 ||

Translation

ഇതിൽ ഹാടകേശ്വരന്റെ മഹിമ, വൃത്രാസുരവധം, നാഗബിലം (സർപ്പഗുഹ), ശംഖ-തീർത്ഥത്തിന്റെ പാവനത, കൂടാതെ അചലേശ്വരന്റെ വിവരണവും ഉൾപ്പെടുന്നു।

Word by Word

• हाटकेश्वर-माहात्म्ये: in/with regard to the glory of Hāṭakeśvara
• हाटकेश्वर-माहात्म्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हाटकेश्वर + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः हाटकेश्वरस्य माहात्म्ये (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• वृत्रासुर-वधः: the slaying of Vṛtrāsura
• वृत्रासुर-वधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्रासुर + वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः वृत्रासुरस्य वधः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (also/and)

• नागबिलम्: Nāga-cave (a place called Nāgabila)
• नागबिलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग + बिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः नागस्य बिलम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• शङ्ख-तीर्थम्: Śaṅkha-tīrtha
• शङ्ख-तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः शङ्खस्य तीर्थम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अचलेश्वर-वर्णनम्: description of Acaleśvara
• अचलेश्वर-वर्णनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अचलेश्वर + वर्णन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः अचलेश्वरस्य वर्णनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Anukramanika/contents list)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Hāṭakeśvara
• Vṛtrāsura
• Nāga-bila
• Śaṅkha-tīrtha
• Acaleśvara

FAQs

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

This verse functions as an Anukramaṇikā (table-of-contents) marker, indicating that the text teaches dharma through tīrtha-māhātmyas (sanctity of pilgrimage sites) and through exemplary narratives such as Vṛtrāsura’s slaying.

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

By pointing to māhātmyas and tīrthas, it implies devotional practice through śravaṇa (hearing sacred accounts), darśana (worship/visiting holy sites), and smaraṇa (remembrance of the Lord) as supported by Purāṇic tradition.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; it is a topical index emphasizing tīrtha literature and narrative theology rather than technical śāstra.