Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43
The Description of the Glory of the Purāṇa
Purāṇa-Māhātmya
यथा श्रेष्ठा नदी गंगा पुष्करं च सरो यथा । काशी पुरी नगो मेरुर्देवो नारायणो हरिः ॥ ४३ ॥
yathā śreṣṭhā nadī gaṃgā puṣkaraṃ ca saro yathā | kāśī purī nago merurdevo nārāyaṇo hariḥ || 43 ||
Sebagaimana Sungai Gaṅgā adalah yang utama antara segala sungai, dan tasik Puṣkara yang utama antara segala tasik; sebagaimana Kāśī yang utama antara segala kota dan Gunung Meru yang utama antara segala gunung—demikianlah, antara para dewa, Nārāyaṇa (Hari) adalah Yang Maha Utama.
Narada (teaching in a didactic, summary style within the Anukramanika context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It establishes a hierarchy of “supreme exemplars” (best river, lake, city, mountain) to affirm the theological conclusion that among all devas, Nārāyaṇa/Hari is the highest refuge and object of worship.
By declaring Hari as supreme among the gods, it directs devotion toward a single, highest Lord (Nārāyaṇa), encouraging focused Vishnu-bhakti rather than scattered worship.
No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it functions as a Purāṇic anukramaṇikā-style statement that supports ritual and pilgrimage priorities by identifying foremost tīrthas and the supreme deity.