Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 175

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

जांबवत्याख्यसरितः पांडुकूपस्य सत्कथा । शतमेधलक्षमेधकोटिमेधकथा तथा ॥ १७५ ॥

Transliteration

jāṃbavatyākhyasaritaḥ pāṃḍukūpasya satkathā | śatamedhalakṣamedhakoṭimedhakathā tathā || 175 ||

Translation

ജാംബവതീ എന്ന നദിയുടെ പുണ്യകഥ, പാണ്ഡുകൂപത്തിന്റെ സത്കഥ, അതുപോലെ ശത-അശ്വമേധം, ലക്ഷ-അശ്വമേധം, കോടി-അശ്വമേധം യാഗങ്ങളുടെ കഥകളും ഇവിടെ വിവരിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• जाम्बवती-आख्या-सरितः: the rivers named Jāmbavatī
• जाम्बवती-आख्या-सरितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाम्बवती (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक) + सरित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘जाम्बवती-आख्या’ (named Jāmbavatī) + ‘सरितः’ (rivers)

• पाण्डु-कूपस्य: of the Pāṇḍu-well
• पाण्डु-कूपस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डु (प्रातिपदिक) + कूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः—‘पाण्डुः कूपः’ (the pale/‘Pāṇḍu’ well)

• सत्-कथा: the sacred/good account
• सत्-कथा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः—‘सती कथा’ (good/true story)

• शत-मेध-लक्ष-मेध-कोटि-मेध-कथा: the account of the hundred-, lakh-, and crore-sacrifices
• शत-मेध-लक्ष-मेध-कोटि-मेध-कथा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + मेध (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + मेध (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + मेध (प्रातिपदिक) + कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुष-समूहः—‘शतमेध’ ‘लक्षमेध’ ‘कोटिमेध’ इत्यादि-मेधानां कथा

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable); अव्यय-प्रकारः—समुच्चय/अन्वयार्थक (also/likewise)

Speaker

Sage Narada (cataloguing topics to Sanatkumara in the Anukramanika section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Jāmbavatī
• Pāṇḍukūpa
• Aśvamedha

FAQs

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

It functions as an Anukramanika (topic-index), pointing seekers to tirtha-kathā (sacred place legends) and yajña-kathā (sacrificial glory) as recognized means for cultivating dharma, faith, and purification through remembered sacred history.

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

Indirectly: by listing revered tirtha-stories and famed sacrificial narratives, it frames devotional hearing (śravaṇa) and reverent remembrance of sacred deeds as supportive to bhakti—guiding the mind toward the divine order upheld by dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual orientation is implied: the mention of medha/aśvamedha points to Śrauta-yajña procedure (Kalpa/Vedāṅga) and the Purāṇic practice of learning ritual merit and context through kathā (narrative instruction).