Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

द्वितीयो वैष्णवः खंडस्तस्याख्यानानि मे शुणु । प्रथमं भूमिवाराहसमाख्यानं प्रकीर्तितम् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

dvitīyo vaiṣṇavaḥ khaṃḍastasyākhyānāni me śuṇu | prathamaṃ bhūmivārāhasamākhyānaṃ prakīrtitam || 20 ||

Translation

രണ്ടാമത്തേത് വൈഷ്ണവ-ഖണ്ഡം; അതിലെ ആഖ്യാനങ്ങൾ എന്നിൽ നിന്നു ശ്രവിക്കൂ. ആദ്യം ഭൂമിയെ ഉയർത്തിയ വരാഹാവതാരത്തിന്റെ പ്രസിദ്ധ കഥ പ്രസ്താവിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു॥২০॥

Word by Word

• द्वितीयः: second
• द्वितीयः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• वैष्णवः: Vaiṣṇava
• वैष्णवः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• खण्डः: section; chapter
• खण्डः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्य: of it/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आख्यानानि: narratives; accounts
• आख्यानानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन

• मे: to me/for me
• मे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (6th/4th Gen/Dat), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शृणु: hear; listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भूमिवाराहसमाख्यानम्: the narrative of the Earth and the Boar (Varāha)
• भूमिवाराहसमाख्यानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक) + वाराह (प्रातिपदिक) + समाख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भूमेः वाराहस्य समाख्यानम्)

• प्रकीर्तितम्: has been proclaimed/related
• प्रकीर्तितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया; predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Varaha
• Bhumi (Earth)

FAQs

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

It marks the opening of the Vaiṣṇava-khaṇḍa and establishes Viṣṇu’s avatāra-līlā—especially Varāha rescuing the Earth—as a primary framework for devotion and dharma.

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

By prioritizing the Varāha narrative, it directs the listener to contemplate Viṣṇu’s protective grace (rakṣaṇa) and to cultivate śraddhā through hearing (śravaṇa) of avatāra-kathā.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śravaṇa and structured sectioning (khaṇḍa/ākhyāna) typical of Purāṇic anukramaṇikā, rather than a specific Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.