Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10
The Description of the Index/Summary of the Garuḍa
Purāṇa
सामुद्रिकं स्वरज्ञानं नवरत्नपरीक्षणम् । माहात्म्यमथ तीर्थानां गयामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् ॥ १० ॥
sāmudrikaṃ svarajñānaṃ navaratnaparīkṣaṇam | māhātmyamatha tīrthānāṃ gayāmāhātmyamuttamam || 10 ||
Ia juga menghuraikan ilmu sāmudrika (fisiognomi), pengetahuan tentang svara (nada dan intonasi), serta pemeriksaan nava-ratna (sembilan permata). Kemudian diterangkan kemuliaan suci (māhātmya) tempat-tempat ziarah (tīrtha), dan—paling utama—māhātmya agung Gayā.
Suta (topic-enumeration within the Anukramanika section; traditionally relaying the Purana’s contents)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
This verse functions as a contents-listing (anukramaṇikā), showing that the Purana integrates practical sciences (like sāmudrika and gem-testing) with tīrtha-māhātmya, culminating in the especially revered Gayā pilgrimage tradition.
By highlighting tīrtha-māhātmya—especially Gayā—it points to devotion expressed through pilgrimage, reverence, and ritual acts performed with faith, which are classic Purāṇic supports for bhakti and purification.
It points to technical knowledge streams associated with Vedic culture—svara-jñāna (tones/intonation used in recitation and music) and ancillary applied sciences like sāmudrika (mark-reading) and navaratna-parīkṣaṇa (gem examination).