Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34
The Description of the Index (Anukramaṇikā) of the Padma Purāṇa
मन्त्ररत्नाभिधानं च त्रिपाद्भूत्यनुवर्णनम् । अवतारकथाः पुण्या मत्स्यादीनामतः परम् ॥ ३४ ॥
mantraratnābhidhānaṃ ca tripādbhūtyanuvarṇanam | avatārakathāḥ puṇyā matsyādīnāmataḥ param || 34 ||
यानंतर ‘मंत्ररत्न’ असे अभिधान, त्रिपाद्भूतीचे (त्रिविध परात्पर ऐश्वर्याचे) वर्णन, आणि पुढे मत्स्यादी अवतारांच्या पुण्य कथांचा क्रम येतो।
Suta (narrating the chapter-wise contents as an anukramaṇikā/summary)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It signals a transition in the text’s outline: from mantra-teaching and metaphysical description (Tripād-bhūti) into the purifying narratives of Viṣṇu’s avatāras, which are presented as inherently merit-producing (puṇyāḥ).
By highlighting avatāra-kathā as ‘puṇyā’, the verse implies that hearing and remembering Viṣṇu’s incarnations is itself a devotional practice that generates spiritual merit and strengthens bhakti through sacred remembrance (smaraṇa) and listening (śravaṇa).
The verse is primarily an anukramaṇikā (table-of-contents) marker rather than a Vedāṅga lesson; its practical takeaway is textual: it indexes upcoming sections on a key mantra (mantra-ratna) and doctrinal exposition (Tripād-bhūti), followed by avatāra narratives.