Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 96

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

स्वर्गद्वारचतुःसिंधुतीर्थं शंकरवापिका । शंकराक गन्धवतीतीर्थं पापप्रणाशनम् ॥ ९६ ॥

Transliteration

svargadvāracatuḥsiṃdhutīrthaṃ śaṃkaravāpikā | śaṃkarāka gandhavatītīrthaṃ pāpapraṇāśanam || 96 ||

Translation

സ്വർഗദ്വാര എന്ന തീർത്ഥം, ചതുഃസിന്ധു എന്ന പുണ്യസ്ഥലം, ശങ്കരവാപികാ എന്ന പവിത്ര കുളം, ശങ്കരാക-ഗന്ധവതീ എന്ന തീർത്ഥം—ഇവയൊക്കെയും പാപനാശകരങ്ങളാണ്.

Word by Word

• स्वर्गद्वार-चतुःसिंधु-तीर्थम्: the Svargadvāra-Catuḥsiṃdhu tīrtha
• स्वर्गद्वार-चतुःसिंधु-तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग + द्वार + चतुः + सिंधु + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘the tīrtha (called) Svargadvāra-Catuḥsiṃdhu’ (बहुपद-तत्पुरुष/नामसमास)

• शंकर-वापिका: Śaṅkara’s small pond/well
• शंकर-वापिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर + वापिका (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; ‘Śaṅkara’s well/pond’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• शंकराक: Śaṅkarāka (name)
• शंकराक: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकराक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सम्भाव्य), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; proper name as transmitted

• गन्धवती-तीर्थम्: the Gandhavatī (fragrant) tīrtha
• गन्धवती-तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धवती + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘the fragrant tīrtha’ / ‘Gandhavatī-tīrtha’ (विशेषण-विशेष्य)

• पाप-प्रणाशनम्: sin-destroying
• पाप-प्रणाशनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप + प्रणाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘destroyer of sins’

Speaker

Narada (listing sacred tīrthas in an anukrama/summary mode)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shankara (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It functions as a concise tīrtha-catalog entry: simply remembering or visiting these named sacred sites is presented as a means of pāpa-kṣaya (the removal of sin) and the accumulation of puṇya.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through tīrtha-sevā—reverent pilgrimage and remembrance of holy places connected with divine power (especially Śaṅkara), treating such acts as devotional disciplines that purify the devotee.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It mainly reflects Purāṇic tīrtha-māhātmya usage rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it points to ritual geography—knowing recognized tīrthas and their merit (puṇya) as used in Dharma-oriented observances.