Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

The Outline (Anukramaṇī) of the Viṣṇu Purāṇa

Devanagari script

मन्वन्तरसमाख्यानं वेदव्यासावतारकम् । नरकोद्धारकं कर्म गदितं च ततः परम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

manvantarasamākhyānaṃ vedavyāsāvatārakam | narakoddhārakaṃ karma gaditaṃ ca tataḥ param || 8 ||

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം മന്വന്തരങ്ങളുടെ ഉപാഖ്യാനങ്ങൾ, വേദവ്യാസന്റെ അവതാരവിവരണം, പിന്നീടു നരകത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ഉദ്ധരിക്കുന്ന കർമ്മങ്ങളും അനുഷ്ഠാനങ്ങളും പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• मन्वन्तरसमाख्यानम्: account of the Manvantaras
• मन्वन्तरसमाख्यानम्: कर्म (listed item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्वन्तर + समाख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वेदव्यासावतारकम्: concerning the incarnation of Vedavyāsa
• वेदव्यासावतारकम्: विशेषण (to समाख्यानम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदव्यास + अवतारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अवतारक = अवतार-सम्बन्धि/अवतार-विषयक (pertaining to incarnation)

• नरकोद्धारकम्: delivering from hell
• नरकोद्धारकम्: विशेषण (to कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नरक + उद्धारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्म: act, rite, deed
• कर्म: कर्म (listed item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गदितम्: is stated
• गदितम्: क्रिया (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (is said)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: अधिकरण (temporal marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/काल-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: thereafter/from that)

• परम्: further/next
• परम्: अधिकरण (sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे अव्ययवत् (adverbial accusative: further/next)

Speaker

Suta (continuing an anukramanika-style summary of topics)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Vedavyasa
• Manu

FAQs

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

It frames the Purana’s scope: cosmic time (Manvantaras), the authoritative role of Vyasa in transmitting Vedic-Puranic knowledge, and dharmic rites that protect and uplift beings from painful post-death states.

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing Vyasa’s avatara and dharmic practices that save from naraka, it points to the Purana’s broader method—right conduct and sacred observances that typically culminate in Vishnu-centered devotion in Narada Purana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse signals applied dharma through karma (prescribed rites). While not naming a Vedanga, it aligns with Kalpa (ritual procedure) as the practical framework for “narakoddhāraka” observances.