Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

धनुष्कोट्यादिमाहात्म्यं क्षीरकुंडादिजं तथा । गायत्र्यादिकतीर्थानां माहात्म्यं चात्र कीर्तितम् ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

dhanuṣkoṭyādimāhātmyaṃ kṣīrakuṃḍādijaṃ tathā | gāyatryādikatīrthānāṃ māhātmyaṃ cātra kīrtitam || 53 ||

Translation

ഇവിടെ ധനുഷ്കോടി മുതലായവയുടെ മഹാത്മ്യവും, ക്ഷീരകുണ്ഡാദി സ്ഥലങ്ങളുടെ മഹിമയും, ഗായത്രി മുതലായ തീർത്ഥങ്ങളുടെ മഹാത്മ്യവും വിശദമായി കീർത്തിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• धनुष्कोटि-आदि-माहात्म्यम्: the greatness of Dhanuṣkoṭi and others
• धनुष्कोटि-आदि-माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म) / Uddeśya (उद्देश्य) (enumerated topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुष्कोटि + आदि + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• क्षीरकुण्ड-आदि-जम्: arising from (the account of) Kṣīra-kuṇḍa and others
• क्षीरकुण्ड-आदि-जम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (qualifier; elliptical)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीरकुण्ड + आदि + ज (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण from √जन्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); 'ज' = from √जन् (born/produced from); agrees with implied neuter head (e.g., 'माहात्म्यम्/वर्णनम्')

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (connective)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable); समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक (connector: 'and also')

• गायत्री-आदि-तीर्थानाम्: of the tīrthas beginning with Gāyatrī
• गायत्री-आदि-तीर्थानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (genitive relation to 'माहात्म्यम्')
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री + आदि + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter; 'तीर्थ' as head), षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—गायत्र्यादीनि तीर्थानि (tīrthas such as Gāyatrī) तेषाम्

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness, sacred glory
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म) (object/topic of 'कीर्तितम्')
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable); अव्यय-प्रकारः—समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (adverbial locus)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable); अव्यय-प्रकारः—देशवाचक (locative adverb: 'here/in this (text/section)')

• कीर्तितम्: has been narrated
• कीर्तितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया) (passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कीर्त् (कीर्तयति) (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (Kridanta) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि प्रयोगे (passive sense): 'has been narrated/mentioned'

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Gayatri

FAQs

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

It functions as an anukramaṇikā-style marker, indicating that the Purāṇa has already praised multiple tīrthas (pilgrimage sites) and their māhātmya—affirming tīrtha-yātrā as a dharmic means of purification and merit.

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

By highlighting tīrtha-māhātmya, it supports bhakti through sacred geography: visiting and honoring revered sites (often connected with mantra and deity worship) becomes a practical expression of devotion aligned with Purāṇic dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; it instead catalogs tīrtha topics—useful for ritual planning and pilgrimage orientation within Narada Purana’s summarized contents.