Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

The Exposition of the Index (Anukramaṇī) of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata

Devanagari script

परीक्षिच्छुकसंवादे सृष्टिद्वयनिरूपणम् । ब्रह्मनारदसंवादे देवताचरितामृतम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

parīkṣicchukasaṃvāde sṛṣṭidvayanirūpaṇam | brahmanāradasaṃvāde devatācaritāmṛtam || 5 ||

Translation

പരീക്ഷിത്–ശുക സംവാദത്തിൽ ദ്വിവിധ സൃഷ്ടിയുടെ നിരൂപണം ഉണ്ട്; ബ്രഹ്മാ–നാരദ സംവാദത്തിൽ ദേവതകളുടെ ചരിതാമൃതം വിവരണമായി വരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• परीक्षि-शुक-संवादे: in the dialogue of Parīkṣit and Śuka
• परीक्षि-शुक-संवादे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परीक्षि(त्) (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक (प्रातिपदिक) + संवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (परीक्षेः शुकस्य संवादः तस्मिन्)

• सृष्टि-द्वय-निरूपणम्: exposition of the two creations
• सृष्टि-द्वय-निरूपणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/Topic described)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक) + निरूपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सृष्टेः द्वयस्य निरूपणम्)

• ब्रह्म-नारद-संवादे: in the dialogue of Brahmā and Nārada
• ब्रह्म-नारद-संवादे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + नारद (प्रातिपदिक) + संवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः नारदस्य संवादः तस्मिन्)

• देवता-चरित-अमृतम्: nectar-like account of the gods’ deeds
• देवता-चरित-अमृतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक) + चरित (प्रातिपदिक) + अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवतायाः चरितस्य अमृतम्)

Speaker

Suta (Anukramanika narrator summarizing topics)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parikshit
• Shuka
• Brahma
• Narada
• Devatas

FAQs

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

It frames Purāṇic wisdom as transmitted through sacred dialogues: cosmology (twofold creation) and uplifting divine history (the ‘nectar’ of devatā-carita) that inspires faith and right understanding.

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

By highlighting ‘devatā-caritāmṛta’—the nectar of divine deeds—it points to a core bhakti method: hearing and contemplating sacred narratives that awaken reverence and devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; it functions as an anukramaṇikā-style index pointing to cosmology (sṛṣṭi-nirūpaṇa) and theological narrative sections.