Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 160

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

वाराणसी द्वारकाख्यावन्त्याख्येति पुरीत्रयम् । बृन्दावनं खांडवाख्यमद्वैकाख्यं वनत्रयम् ॥ १६० ॥

Transliteration

vārāṇasī dvārakākhyāvantyākhyeti purītrayam | bṛndāvanaṃ khāṃḍavākhyamadvaikākhyaṃ vanatrayam || 160 ||

Translation

പുണ്യനഗരങ്ങളുടെ ത്രയം—വാരാണസി, ദ്വാരകാ എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്ന നഗരം, അവന്തീ എന്നു അറിയപ്പെടുന്ന നഗരം—എന്നു പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു. അതുപോലെ വനങ്ങളുടെ ത്രയം—വൃന്ദാവനം, ഖാണ്ഡവവനം, അദ്വൈകവനം—എന്നു പ്രസിദ്ധം.

Word by Word

• वाराणसी: Vārāṇasī
• वाराणसी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; Proper noun (नगरनाम)

• द्वारका-आख्या: named Dvārakā
• द्वारका-आख्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्वारकायाः आख्या = named Dvārakā)

• अवन्ती-आख्या: named Avantī
• अवन्ती-आख्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवन्ती (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अवन्त्याः आख्या = named Avantī)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उद्धरणचिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; quotative particle (इति-प्रयोगः)

• पुरी-त्रयम्: the triad of cities (three cities)
• पुरी-त्रयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (three cities)

• बृन्दावनम्: Vṛndāvana
• बृन्दावनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृन्दावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Proper noun (वननाम)

• खाण्डव-आख्यम्: named Khāṇḍava
• खाण्डव-आख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (खाण्डवम् आख्यं = named Khāṇḍava)

• अद्वैका-आख्यम्: named Advaikā
• अद्वैका-आख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्वैका (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अद्वैकम् आख्यं = named Advaikā)

• वन-त्रयम्: the triad of forests (three forests)
• वन-त्रयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (three forests)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Varanasi (Kashi)
• Dvaraka
• Avanti (Ujjaini)
• Vrindavana
• Khandava
• Advaika

FAQs

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

It classifies प्रमुख-क्षेत्र (principal sacred locales) into triads—three holy cities and three holy forests—guiding devotees toward pilgrimage (tīrtha-yātrā) and kṣetra-smaraṇa as supports for dharma and bhakti.

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

By naming renowned kṣetras associated with intense worship and divine remembrance, it implies that residing in, visiting, or even remembering these places strengthens bhakti through सत्संग, temple worship, and continuous nāma-smaraṇa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; it functions as an anukramaṇikā-style cataloging method—useful for organizing tīrtha and kṣetra material for ritual planning and pilgrimage traditions.