Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 99

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

अक्रूरसंज्ञकन्त्वेकपादं चंद्रार्कवैभवम् । करभेशाख्यतीर्थं च लटुकेशादितीर्थकम् ॥ ९९ ॥

Transliteration

akrūrasaṃjñakantvekapādaṃ caṃdrārkavaibhavam | karabheśākhyatīrthaṃ ca laṭukeśāditīrthakam || 99 ||

Translation

അക്രൂര എന്ന പേരിലുള്ള തീർത്ഥം, ഏകപാദ എന്ന പുണ്യസ്ഥലം, ചന്ദ്ര-സൂര്യ വൈഭവത്തിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധമായ ധാമം; കരഭേശ എന്ന തീർത്ഥം, കൂടാതെ ലടുകേശ മുതലായ തീർത്ഥസ്ഥാനങ്ങളും (ഉള്ളതായി) പറയുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अक्रूर-संज्ञकम्: called ‘Akrūra’
• अक्रूर-संज्ञकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्रूर + संज्ञक (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘named Akrūra’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय; particle ‘but/indeed’

• एक-पादम्: Ekapāda (name/place)
• एक-पादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + पाद (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘Ekapāda’ (name; one-footed)

• चन्द्र-अर्क-वैभवम्: moon-and-sun splendor
• चन्द्र-अर्क-वैभवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र + अर्क + वैभव (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘the splendor of the Moon and Sun’ (चन्द्र+अर्क द्वन्द्व as qualifier)

• करभ-ईश-आख्य-तीर्थम्: the Karabheśa-named tīrtha
• करभ-ईश-आख्य-तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करभ + ईश + आख्य + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘the tīrtha called Karabheśa’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• लटुक-ईश-आदि-तीर्थकम्: the Laṭukeśa etc. tīrtha
• लटुक-ईश-आदि-तीर्थकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लटुक + ईश + आदि + तीर्थक (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘the tīrtha(s) beginning with Laṭukeśa’ (आदि-समास)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada Purana’s anukramanika-style enumeration, traditionally relaying Narada’s discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Akrura
• Ekapada
• Chandra
• Arka (Surya)
• Karabhesha
• Latukesha

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a concise anukramanika-style register of tīrthas, indicating that remembrance and pilgrimage to named sacred sites are recognized means of accruing puṇya and supporting dharmic life.

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

Bhakti is implied through tīrtha-smaraṇa and tīrtha-yātrā: visiting or reverently recalling holy places associated with divine presence (e.g., solar-lunar splendour, temple-tīrthas) becomes a practical devotional act that purifies the mind and strengthens worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse indirectly reflects Jyotiṣa-oriented sacred geography by invoking the Moon and Sun’s ‘vaibhava’ (splendour), a common Purāṇic way of linking tīrthas with cosmic/astral sanctity used in calendrical and pilgrimage planning.