Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

स्कन्दाह्वयस्तत्र खण्डाः सप्तैव परिकल्पिताः । एकाशीतिसहस्रं तु स्कान्दं सर्वोघकृतंनम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

skandāhvayastatra khaṇḍāḥ saptaiva parikalpitāḥ | ekāśītisahasraṃ tu skāndaṃ sarvoghakṛtaṃnam || 3 ||

Translation

സ്കന്ദനാമകമായ ആ പുരാണത്തിൽ ഏഴ് ഖണ്ഡങ്ങൾ മാത്രം ക്രമീകരിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു. എൺപത്തൊന്നായിരം ശ്ലോകങ്ങളുള്ള സ്കാന്ദം സർവ്വ പാപതാപപ്രവാഹവും ഛേദിക്കുന്നതെന്നു വന്ദ്യമാണ് ॥३॥

Word by Word

• skanda-āhvayāḥ: named ‘Skanda’
• skanda-āhvayāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: skanda (प्रातिपदिक) + āhvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; adjective qualifying 'khaṇḍāḥ' meaning 'called Skanda'

• tatra: therein
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place

• khaṇḍāḥ: sections
• khaṇḍāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• sapta: seven
• sapta: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/number)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: Numeral (संख्या), indeclinable-like; used adjectivally with 'khaṇḍāḥ'

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle

• parikalpitāḥ: are arranged/assigned
• parikalpitāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicative passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + kḷp (धातु) → parikalpita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; passive/predicative with implied 'santi'

• ekāśīti-sahasram: eighty-one thousand
• ekāśīti-sahasram: Karta (कर्ता/subject/predicate number)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekāśīti (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; dvigu numeral compound = 'eighty-one thousand'

• tu: and/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle

• skāndam: the Skānda (Purāṇa)
• skāndam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: skānda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; name of the Purāṇa/text

• sarva-ogha-kṛtam: compiled as a complete collection
• sarva-ogha-kṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + ogha (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; kṛdanta (क्त) used adjectivally; meaning 'made/compiled by all groups/hosts' or 'made as a complete collection' (reading uncertain due to manuscript)

• nam: (unclear)
• nam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/uncertain)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: (पाठभेद/अस्पष्ट)
• Form: Textual corruption/unclear pada in given IAST 'kṛtaṃnam'; likely part of 'kṛtam' + 'iti/nāma' etc. Requires manuscript check.

Speaker

Sage Narada (in dialogue with Sanatkumara tradition; Anukramanika narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Skanda (as the Purana-title/personage)

FAQs

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

It functions as an Anukramanika (catalog) statement: it identifies the Skanda Purana’s formal structure (seven khaṇḍas) and praises its purificatory power as a text that removes accumulated obstacles and sins.

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

By glorifying the Skanda Purana as ‘sarvaugha-nāśa’ (destroyer of all burdens), it supports the bhakti practice of Purana-śravaṇa and pāṭha—devotional hearing/recitation—as a means of inner purification and steadying devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects Shastra-anukrama (textual organization and enumeration): counting verses and divisions is a practical archival method used in Purāṇic transmission, aiding accurate preservation, citation, and recitation planning.