Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18
The Outline (Anukramaṇī) of the Viṣṇu Purāṇa
पृष्टेन चोदिताः शश्वद्विष्णुधर्मोत्तराह्वयाः । नानाधर्मकथाः पुण्या व्रतानि नियमा यमाः ॥ १८ ॥
pṛṣṭena coditāḥ śaśvadviṣṇudharmottarāhvayāḥ | nānādharmakathāḥ puṇyā vratāni niyamā yamāḥ || 18 ||
ചോദ്യംചെയ്ത് നിരന്തരം പ്രേരിപ്പിക്കപ്പെട്ട ‘വിഷ്ണുധർമ്മോത്തര’ എന്ന ഉപദേശങ്ങൾ നാനാവിധ പുണ്യധർമ്മകഥകൾ—വ്രതങ്ങൾ, നിയമങ്ങൾ, യമങ്ങൾ—പ്രകാശിപ്പിക്കുന്നു.
Suta (narrating the contents/summary in an anukramanika manner)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It frames the Viṣṇudharmottara material as a question-driven teaching tradition that preserves meritorious dharma-discourses, especially practical disciplines like vratas, yamas, and niyamas.
By highlighting Viṣṇu-centered dharma teachings (Viṣṇudharmottara), it implies that devotion is supported by lived practice—vows and ethical restraints that purify the devotee and stabilize worship.
The verse is not a Vedāṅga technical passage; it emphasizes applied dharma—vrata practice and ethical discipline (yama/niyama)—rather than śikṣā, vyākaraṇa, jyotiṣa, etc.