Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

The Exposition of the Table of Contents (Anukramaṇī) of the Agni Purāṇa

Devanagari script

मासिकव्रतनिर्द्देशो दीपदानविधिस्तथा । नवव्यूहार्चनं प्रोक्तं नरकाणां निरूपणम् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

māsikavratanirddeśo dīpadānavidhistathā | navavyūhārcanaṃ proktaṃ narakāṇāṃ nirūpaṇam || 13 ||

Translation

ഇവിടെ മാസികവ്രതങ്ങളുടെ നിർദ്ദേശം, ദീപദാനവിധി, നവവ്യൂഹാരാധന, കൂടാതെ നരകങ്ങളുടെ വിവരണം ഉപദേശിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• मासिक-व्रत-निर्देशः: the instruction on monthly vows
• मासिक-व्रत-निर्देशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मासिक (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (instruction regarding monthly vows)

• दीप-दान-विधिः: the procedure for donating lamps
• दीप-दान-विधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (procedure for lamp-giving)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/क्रियाविशेषण (also/likewise)

• नव-व्यूह-अर्चनम्: worship of the nine vyūhas
• नव-व्यूह-अर्चनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यूह (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (worship of the nine vyūhas)

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भावः—‘said/declared’

• नरकाणाम्: of the hells
• नरकाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• निरूपणम्: the description/exposition
• निरूपणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरूपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta (Anukramanika-style narration summarizing the chapter’s contents)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: māsika-vrata (monthly observances; unspecified names)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It functions as a topical index: it highlights key dharmic practices (vrata and dāna), a Vaiṣṇava worship framework (Vyūha-arcana), and the moral-educational warning of narakas—together mapping practice, devotion, and consequence.

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

By pointing to nava-vyūha-arcana, it frames devotion as structured worship of Viṣṇu’s ordered manifestations, supported by vows and offerings like dīpa-dāna that cultivate sustained bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual praxis is emphasized through vidhi (procedure): the verse signals prescriptive guidance for observances and charitable rites (vrata and dāna), i.e., applied dharma in a rule-based, śāstric manner.