Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

The Description of the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa’s Table of Contents

Anukramaṇī

Devanagari script

नीलकंठाह्वयाख्यानं महादेवस्य वैभवम् । अमावास्यानुकथनं युगतत्त्वनिरूपणम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

nīlakaṃṭhāhvayākhyānaṃ mahādevasya vaibhavam | amāvāsyānukathanaṃ yugatattvanirūpaṇam || 10 ||

Translation

ഇതിൽ “നീലകണ്ഠ” എന്ന ആഖ്യാനം, മഹാദേവന്റെ വൈഭവം, അമാവാസ്യയെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള അനുഖ്യാനം, യುಗതത്ത്വത്തിന്റെ നിർൂപണം എന്നിവ ഉൾക്കൊള്ളുന്നു।

Word by Word

• नीलकण्ठ-अह्वय-आख्यानम्: narrative of the epithet/name 'Nīlakaṇṭha'
• नीलकण्ठ-अह्वय-आख्यानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीलकण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + अह्वय (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'नीलकण्ठस्य अह्वयस्य आख्यानम्'

• महादेवस्य: of Mahādeva
• महादेवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• वैभवम्: majesty/glory
• वैभवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अमावास्या-अनुकथनम्: account of the new-moon day (Amāvāsyā)
• अमावास्या-अनुकथनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमावास्या (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुकथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'अमावास्यायाः अनुकथनम्'

• युग-तत्त्व-निरूपणम्: exposition of the principles of the yugas
• युग-तत्त्व-निरूपणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + निरूपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'युगस्य तत्त्वस्य निरूपणम्'

Speaker

Suta (narrating the chapter’s contents in Anukramanika style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Amavasya observance (general)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Nīlakaṇṭha
• Mahādeva (Śiva)
• Amāvāsyā
• Yuga

FAQs

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

It functions as a chapter-index verse, signaling that the text will teach sacred narrative (Nīlakaṇṭha), Śiva’s greatness, Amāvāsyā observances, and yuga-principles—linking devotion, ritual time, and cosmic order.

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

By highlighting Mahādeva’s vaibhava and a named sacred account, it points to Purāṇic bhakti through śravaṇa (hearing) and smaraṇa (remembrance) of divine līlā and glory.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalā/Time-reckoning is implied through Amāvāsyā and yuga-tattva—topics closely tied to Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astronomy/astrology) for determining sacred dates and understanding cosmic cycles.