Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26
The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī
Index/Summary
अश्वमेधकथा राज्ञो ब्रह्मलोकगतिस्तथा । रथयाव्राविधिः पश्चाज्जन्मस्थानविधिस्तथा ॥ २६ ॥
aśvamedhakathā rājño brahmalokagatistathā | rathayāvrāvidhiḥ paścājjanmasthānavidhistathā || 26 ||
Turut dihuraikan kisah korban Aśvamedha sang raja dan pencapaiannya ke alam Brahma; kemudian tatacara upacara Rathayāvrā; serta peraturan mengenai tempat kelahiran suci (janma-sthāna).
Narada (in an anukramanika-style enumeration to Sanatkumara and the sages)
Vrata: Aśvamedha (yajña, not a vrata) / Rathayāvrā (rite)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
This verse functions as an anukramaṇikā (contents index), highlighting that the text teaches both ritual narratives (like Aśvamedha) and their stated fruits (such as Brahmaloka), along with specific rite-procedures (vidhi) connected to vows and sacred places.
Indirectly: by listing rites, vows, and sacred-site rules, it points to structured dharmic practice that can be performed with devotion—where ritual action (karma) becomes devotion when offered with reverence to the divine and to dharma.
Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through the repeated use of “vidhi,” indicating prescriptive guidance for yajña/vrata performance and for proper observance related to sacred locations (kṣetra/janmasthāna).