Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

The Description of the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa’s Table of Contents

Anukramaṇī

Devanagari script

वर्णनं नरकाणां च विकर्माचरणैस्ततः । मनोमयपुराख्यानं लयः प्राकृतिकस्ततः ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

varṇanaṃ narakāṇāṃ ca vikarmācaraṇaistataḥ | manomayapurākhyānaṃ layaḥ prākṛtikastataḥ || 26 ||

Translation

ତଦନନ୍ତରେ ନରକମାନଙ୍କର ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା ଓ ନିଷିଦ୍ଧ କର୍ମାଚରଣର ପ୍ରସଙ୍ଗ ଆସେ; ପରେ ମନୋମୟପୁରର ଆଖ୍ୟାନ, ତାପରେ ପ୍ରକୃତି-ଲୟ (ପ୍ରଳୟ) କଥିତ ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• वर्णनम्: description
• वर्णनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्णन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नरकाणाम्: of the hells
• नरकाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विकर्म: wrong action/sinful act
• विकर्म: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (contextual stem in compound), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• आचरणैः: by (their) practice/commission
• आचरणैः: Hetu/Karana (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रम/अनन्तर-अर्थे (adverb: thereafter/from that)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग)

• मय: consisting of
• मय: —
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग), ‘-मय’ प्रत्ययार्थ: made of/consisting of

• पुर: city
• पुर: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग)

• आख्यानम्: account/narration (of the mind-made city)
• आख्यानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समास: मनोमयपुर-आख्यानम् (षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष: ‘of the mind-made city’)

• लयः: dissolution
• लयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्राकृतिकः: natural/prakṛti-based
• प्राकृतिकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृतिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies लयः)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रम/अनन्तर-अर्थे (adverb: thereafter)

Speaker

Sage Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada, giving a sequential outline of topics)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Naraka
• Prakriti

FAQs

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

It functions as an index-like summary, linking ethical causality (vikarma leading to naraka) with a broader cosmological frame that culminates in prākṛtika laya—reminding the reader that actions have consequences within a universe that also undergoes periodic dissolution.

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

Indirectly: by warning against vikarma and its painful results (naraka), it pushes the seeker toward sādhana grounded in dharma—within which Vishnu-bhakti is traditionally upheld as a purifying, liberating orientation that counters sinful tendencies.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it is primarily a Purāṇic topic-outline. Practically, it reinforces dharma-śāstric discernment between karma and vikarma (permissible vs. forbidden acts).