Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

रामनाथस्य महिमा तत्त्वज्ञानोपदेशनम् । यात्राविधानकथनं सेतै मुक्तिप्रदं नृणाम् ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

rāmanāthasya mahimā tattvajñānopadeśanam | yātrāvidhānakathanaṃ setai muktipradaṃ nṛṇām || 54 ||

Translation

രാമനാഥന്റെ മഹിമ, തത്ത്വജ്ഞാനോപദേശം, യാത്രാവിധാനത്തിന്റെ വിവരണം, കൂടാതെ സേതു മനുഷ്യർക്കു മോക്ഷം നൽകുന്നതായി ഇവിടെ വർണ്ണിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• रामनाथस्य: of Rāmanātha
• रामनाथस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (genitive relation to 'महिमा')
• Type: Noun
• Root: रामनाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—रामस्य नाथः (Lord of Rāma / Rāma-nātha as proper name)

• महिमा: glory, greatness
• महिमा: Karta (कर्ता) / Uddeśya (उद्देश्य) (topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्त्वज्ञान-उपदेशनम्: instruction in knowledge of reality
• तत्त्वज्ञान-उपदेशनम्: Karma (कर्म) / Uddeśya (उद्देश्य) (enumerated topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्वज्ञान + उपदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: तत्त्वज्ञानस्य उपदेशनम्

• यात्राविधान-कथनम्: the narration of the procedure for pilgrimage
• यात्राविधान-कथनम्: Karma (कर्म) / Uddeśya (उद्देश्य) (enumerated topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यात्राविधान + कथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: यात्राविधानस्य कथनम्

• सेतौ: at Setu (Rāma-setu)
• सेतौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (locative: where/with respect to Setu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (Singular); (IAST 'setai' understood as 'setau')

• मुक्ति-प्रदम्: granting liberation
• मुक्ति-प्रदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (qualifier; elliptical)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक; from √दा with prefix प्र- as adjective 'giving')
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: मुक्तेः प्रदम्; agrees with implied neuter head (e.g., 'फलम्/माहात्म्यम्')

• नृणाम्: of men, of people
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (genitive: for/of people)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the chapter’s topical summary in Anukramanika style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rāmanātha (Rāmeśvara)
• Setu (Setubandha/Rāmeśvaram)

FAQs

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

The verse frames Rāmanātha/Setu as a mokṣa-oriented tīrtha: it links pilgrimage practice (yātrā-vidhi) with inner realization (tattva-jñāna), presenting sacred travel as a means to liberation when guided by true knowledge.

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

By praising Rāmanātha’s glory and highlighting pilgrimage observance, it implies devotion expressed through tīrtha-yātrā and reverent worship; bhakti is strengthened when supported by tattva-jñāna rather than mere external travel.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure is emphasized through yātrā-vidhāna (prescribed rules for pilgrimage), aligning with kalpa-style practical guidance on how to perform sacred observances correctly for spiritual fruit.