Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

The Description of the Index (Anukramaṇikā) of the Padma Purāṇa

Devanagari script

समुद्रमथनाख्यानं व्रताख्यानं ततः परम् । ऊर्ज्जपंचाहमाहाम्यं स्तोत्रं सर्वापराधनुत् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

samudramathanākhyānaṃ vratākhyānaṃ tataḥ param | ūrjjapaṃcāhamāhāmyaṃ stotraṃ sarvāparādhanut || 18 ||

Translation

സമുദ്രമഥനത്തിന്റെ ആഖ്യാനം, തുടർന്ന് വ്രതകഥകൾ; പിന്നെ ഊർജ്ജ പഞ്ചാഹത്തിന്റെ മഹാത്മ്യവും, സകല അപരാധങ്ങളും നശിപ്പിക്കുന്ന സ്തോത്രവും।

Word by Word

• समुद्र-मथन-आख्यानम्: the narrative of the churning of the ocean
• समुद्र-मथन-आख्यानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मथन (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (समुद्रमथनस्य आख्यानम्)

• व्रत-आख्यानम्: the account of a vow/observance
• व्रत-आख्यानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (व्रतस्य आख्यानम्)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereafter)

• परम्: next/further
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (आख्यानम् इत्यादेः)

• ऊर्ज्ज-पञ्च-अह-माहात्म्यम्: the greatness of the five-day Ūrjja observance
• ऊर्ज्ज-पञ्च-अह-माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ज्ज (प्रातिपदिक) + पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक) + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः द्विगुः (पञ्च अहानि) + तत्पुरुषः (ऊर्ज्जपञ्चाहस्य माहात्म्यम्)

• स्तोत्रम्: a hymn
• स्तोत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• सर्व-अपराध-नुत्: removing all offenses/sins
• सर्व-अपराध-नुत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अपराध (प्रातिपदिक) + नुत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √नु/नुद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (प्रायः); समासः तत्पुरुषः (सर्वान् अपराधान् नुदति/नुत्); विशेषणम् (स्तोत्रस्य)

Speaker

Sage Nārada (describing the contents to the Sanatkumāra brothers in an anukramaṇikā-style summary)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ūrjja-pañcāha

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Samudra (Ocean)
• Ūrjja (observance/vrata period)

FAQs

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

It functions as an anukramaṇikā (table-of-contents) marker, highlighting that sacred narrative (samudra-manthana), disciplined observances (vratas), and devotional praise (stotra) together form a practical path that culminates in the removal of spiritual offenses (aparādhas).

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

By explicitly praising a “stotra that destroys all offenses,” it emphasizes bhakti as lived devotion—hearing sacred stories, undertaking vrata-discipline, and reciting hymns—where sincere praise and remembrance purify faults and restore devotional eligibility.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to ritual praxis rather than a specific Vedāṅga: it foregrounds vrata-vidhi (vow observance and calendrical discipline, often supported by jyotiṣa/timekeeping) and stotra-pāṭha (regulated recitation), both central to Narada Purana rituals.