Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

अप्सरस्तीर्थमुख्यानां माहात्म्यं यत्र कीर्तितम् । वर्णानामाश्रमाणां च धर्मतत्त्वनिरूपणम् ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

apsarastīrthamukhyānāṃ māhātmyaṃ yatra kīrtitam | varṇānāmāśramāṇāṃ ca dharmatattvanirūpaṇam || 57 ||

Translation

അവിടെ അപ്സരസ്തീർത്ഥം മുതലായ പ്രധാന തീർത്ഥങ്ങളുടെ മഹാത്മ്യം കീർത്തിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു; വർണ്ണങ്ങളും ആശ്രമങ്ങളും സംബന്ധിച്ച ധർമ്മതത്ത്വവും നിർൂപിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• अप्सरस्-तीर्थ-मुख्यानाम्: of the chief sacred fords of the Apsarases
• अप्सरस्-तीर्थ-मुख्यानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (अप्सरसां तीर्थाणां मुख्यानाम्)

• माहात्म्यम्: the greatness
• माहात्म्यम्: Karta (कर्ता; सूची-विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्ध-देशवाचक (relative adverb: where)

• कीर्तितम्: is/was praised, recounted
• कीर्तितम्: Kriya (क्रिया; कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वर्णानाम्: of the social classes (varṇas)
• वर्णानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आश्रमाणाम्: of the life-stages (āśramas)
• आश्रमाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• धर्म-तत्त्व-निरूपणम्: the exposition of the principles of dharma
• धर्म-तत्त्व-निरूपणम्: Karta (कर्ता; सूची-विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + निरूपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (धर्मतत्त्वस्य निरूपणम्)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada, summarizing contents)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Apsarastirtha

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a contents-marker: it highlights that the text includes both tīrtha-māhātmya (the sanctifying power and glory of pilgrimage sites) and dharma-tattva (clear principles of right conduct) applicable across varṇa and āśrama.

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

By pointing to tīrtha-māhātmya and dharma-tattva together, it implies a Bhakti-friendly framework: sacred places support remembrance and worship, while dharma for one’s āśrama stabilizes the devotee’s life and practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is not a direct Vedāṅga teaching; it is a dharma-oriented index line. Practically, it emphasizes dharma-śāstra style guidance—how duties differ by varṇa and āśrama—rather than technical disciplines like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.