Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

नानाराजकथाः पुण्या जगन्नाथानुवर्णनम् । वृन्दावनस्य माहात्म्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

nānārājakathāḥ puṇyā jagannāthānuvarṇanam | vṛndāvanasya māhātmyaṃ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam || 21 ||

Translation

പലവിധ പുണ്യരാജകഥകൾ, ജഗന്നാഥന്റെ അനുവർണ്ണനം, വൃന്ദാവനത്തിന്റെ മഹാത്മ്യം—ഇവയെല്ലാം സർവ്വപാപനാശകരമാണ്।

Word by Word

• नाना-राज-कथाः: various royal tales
• नाना-राज-कथाः: Karta (कर्ता/उद्देश्यवाचक सूची-आइटम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाना (प्रातिपदिक) + राज (प्रातिपदिक) + कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः: ‘नानाः राजकथाः’ (various royal stories)

• पुण्याः: meritorious, holy
• पुण्याः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘कथाः’)

• जगन्नाथ-अनुवर्णनम्: the description of Jagannātha
• जगन्नाथ-अनुवर्णनम्: Karta (कर्ता/उद्देश्यवाचक सूची-आइटम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगन्नाथ (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुवर्णन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘जगन्नाथस्य अनुवर्णनम्’

• वृन्दावनस्य: of Vṛndāvana
• वृन्दावनस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृन्दावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• माहात्म्यम्: the greatness (glory)
• माहात्म्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/उद्देश्यवाचक सूची-आइटम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्व-पाप-प्रणाशनम्: destroying all sins
• सर्व-पाप-प्रणाशनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रणाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः: ‘सर्वाणि पापानि’ इति कर्मधारयः + ‘प्रणाशनम्’ इति तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘माहात्म्यम्’)

Speaker

Nārada (in summary/enumerative narration to the Sanatkumāra tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Jagannātha
• Vṛndāvana

FAQs

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

It asserts that hearing and recounting sacred narratives—especially praise of the Lord (Jagannātha) and the māhātmya of holy places like Vṛndāvana—functions as pāpa-kṣaya (the destruction of sin) and supports devotional purification.

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

Bhakti is reinforced through śravaṇa and kīrtana: listening to and describing the Lord’s glories (anuvarṇana) and His sacred dhāma’s greatness (māhātmya) are presented as potent devotional practices with transformative merit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is Purāṇic upāya—regular śravaṇa/kathā of dharmic royal narratives and dhāma-māhātmya as a discipline for inner purification.