Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

The Anukramaṇikā (Contents-Outline) of the Vāmana Purāṇa

Devanagari script

कूर्मकल्पसमाख्यानं वर्गत्रयकथानम् । भागद्वयसमायुक्तं वक्तृश्रोतृशुभावहम् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

kūrmakalpasamākhyānaṃ vargatrayakathānam | bhāgadvayasamāyuktaṃ vaktṛśrotṛśubhāvaham || 2 ||

Translation

त्यात कूर्मकल्पाचे आख्यान आहे, कथा तीन वर्गांत मांडलेली; ते दोन भागांनी युक्त असून वक्ता व श्रोता दोघांनाही शुभकारक आहे।

Word by Word

• कूर्मकल्पसमाख्यानम्: the account of the Kūrma-kalpa
• कूर्मकल्पसमाख्यानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म + कल्प + समाख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: कूर्मकल्पस्य समाख्यानम् (account of the Kūrma-kalpa)

• वर्गत्रयकथानम्: narration in three divisions
• वर्गत्रयकथानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ग + त्रय + कथान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वर्गत्रयस्य कथानम् (narration of three sections)

• भागद्वयसमायुक्तम्: composed of two parts
• भागद्वयसमायुक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाग + द्वय + समा-युक्त (कृदन्त; युज् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) ‘युक्त’; उपसर्ग: समा-; तत्पुरुष: भागद्वयेन समायुक्तम् (joined with two parts)

• वक्तृश्रोतृशुभावहम्: bringing auspiciousness to speaker and listener
• वक्तृश्रोतृशुभावहम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्तृ + श्रोतृ + शुभ + आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (वक्तृ-श्रोतृ) + तत्पुरुष: वक्तृश्रोतॄणां शुभम् आवहति इति (bringing auspiciousness to speaker and listener)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing the Purana’s structure/content in an anukramanika (summary) mode

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kurma (as Kūrma-kalpa)

FAQs

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

It frames Purāṇic study as spiritually auspicious: the very act of teaching and hearing this structured narration is said to confer śubha (benefit) on both speaker and listener.

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

By praising the merit of listening (śravaṇa) and recitation, it aligns with bhakti practice where hearing sacred kathā is itself a devotional discipline that purifies and uplifts.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Not a specific Vedāṅga topic; it highlights textual organization (two parts, three divisions) typical of anukramaṇikā-style cataloging used to navigate Purāṇic material efficiently.