Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

पुराणं लेखयित्वा वै ज्येष्ठ्यां स्वर्णाब्जसंयुतम् । यः प्रदद्यात्सुसत्कृत्य पुराणज्ञाय मानद ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

purāṇaṃ lekhayitvā vai jyeṣṭhyāṃ svarṇābjasaṃyutam | yaḥ pradadyātsusatkṛtya purāṇajñāya mānada || 38 ||

Translation

ഹേ മാനദാ! പുരാണം എഴുതിപ്പിച്ച്, ജ്യേഷ്ഠ പൗർണ്ണമിദിനത്തിൽ സ്വർണ്ണവും താമരയും ചേർത്ത് അലങ്കരിച്ച്, ആദരത്തോടെ പുരാണജ്ഞനു ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നവൻ മഹാപുണ്യം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• पुराणम्: the Purāṇa (text)
• पुराणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• लेखयित्वा: having written (or had written)
• लेखयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative sense: having caused to be written / having written)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed)

• ज्येष्ठ्याम्: in (the month) Jyeṣṭhā
• ज्येष्ठ्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; अधिकरणम् (in the month Jyeṣṭhā / on Jyeṣṭhā)

• स्वर्ण-अब्ज-संयुतम्: adorned with a golden lotus
• स्वर्ण-अब्ज-संयुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अब्ज (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्वर्णेन अब्जेन च संयुतम् / स्वर्णाब्जैः संयुतम्)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• प्रदद्यात्: should give
• प्रदद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• सु-सत्कृत्य: having duly honored (him)
• सु-सत्कृत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + सत्कृत्य (√कृ; क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive) with उपपद 'सु' (well); manner adverbial

• पुराण-ज्ञाय: to a knower of the Purāṇa
• पुराण-ज्ञाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पुराणं जानाति इति)

• मानद: O giver of honor (O Māṇada)
• मानद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; संबोधन-प्रयोगः

Speaker

Sage Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Purana
• Jyeshtha (Purnima)

FAQs

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

It teaches that donating sacred knowledge is a high form of dāna: commissioning a Purāṇa manuscript and gifting it with reverence to a qualified knower generates exceptional puṇya and supports the preservation and transmission of dharma.

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

By honoring Purāṇic scripture and a learned devotee/teacher, the giver serves Bhagavān through śāstra-sevā and guru-satkāra—devotional acts that strengthen faith and right understanding.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalā/ritual timing and calendrical observance are implied through the specification of Jyeṣṭha Pūrṇimā (a time-based rite), reflecting practical application of jyotiṣa-style tithi/month reckoning within dharmic practice.