Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

The Narration of the Brāhma Purāṇa’s Account

Brāhma Purāṇānukramaṇikā

Devanagari script

किंकिमाख्यानयुक्तानि तद्वदस्व मम प्रभो । चातुर्वर्ण्याश्रया नानाव्रतादीनां कथास्तथा ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

kiṃkimākhyānayuktāni tadvadasva mama prabho | cāturvarṇyāśrayā nānāvratādīnāṃ kathāstathā || 11 ||

Translation

പ്രഭോ, ഏത് ഏത് ഉപദേശങ്ങൾ പവിത്ര ആഖ്യാനങ്ങളാൽ യുക്തമാണെന്ന് എനിക്കു പറയുക. അതുപോലെ ചാതുർവർണ്യധർമ്മത്തെ ആശ്രയിച്ച വിവിധ വ്രതാദികളുടെ കഥകളും വിവരിക്കണമേ.

Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• किम्: what (all)
• किम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; पुनरुक्ति—‘किं किं’ = ‘what all’

• आख्यान-युक्तानि: endowed with narratives
• आख्यान-युक्तानि: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (प्रातिपदिक/क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (आख्यानैः युक्तानि)

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• वदस्व: tell (me)
• वदस्व: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• मम: my / to me
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative), एकवचनम्

• चातुर्वर्ण्य-आश्रयाः: based on the four varṇas
• चातुर्वर्ण्य-आश्रयाः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चातुर्वर्ण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (चातुर्वर्ण्यं आश्रयः येषाम्)

• नाना-व्रत-आदीनाम्: of various vows and the like
• नाना-व्रत-आदीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (नानाविधाः व्रतादयः)

• कथाः: stories/accounts
• कथाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: प्रकार (Mode)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचकम् (adverb: ‘also/likewise’)

Speaker

Narada (questioning Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It frames dharma as best understood through ākhyanas (sacred narratives) and through disciplined vrata-practice, asking for teachings that are both story-grounded and duty-grounded.

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

By requesting vrata-kathās, the verse points to devotion expressed through vowed observances and hearing sacred narratives—two classic Purāṇic supports for steady bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is primarily dharma-oriented (varna duties and vrata rules); it implicitly calls for ritual-structure and correct observance rather than a specific Vedanga like vyākaraṇa or jyotiṣa.