Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

The Exposition of the Index (Anukramaṇī) of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata

Devanagari script

पुराणलक्षणं चैव सृष्टिकारणसंभवः । द्वितीयोऽयं समुदितः स्कंधो व्यासेन धीमता ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

purāṇalakṣaṇaṃ caiva sṛṣṭikāraṇasaṃbhavaḥ | dvitīyo'yaṃ samuditaḥ skaṃdho vyāsena dhīmatā || 6 ||

Translation

ପୁରାଣର ଲକ୍ଷଣ ଏବଂ ସୃଷ୍ଟିକାରଣର ଉଦ୍ଭବ—ଏହାମାନଙ୍କୁ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କରି ଧୀମାନ ବ୍ୟାସ ଏହି ଦ୍ୱିତୀୟ ସ୍କନ୍ଧକୁ ସଂରଚନା କରିଛନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• पुराण-लक्षणम्: the characteristics of a Purāṇa
• पुराण-लक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुराणस्य लक्षणम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• सृष्टि-कारण-संभवः: the arising of the cause of creation
• सृष्टि-कारण-संभवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक) + संभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सृष्टेः कारणस्य संभवः)

• द्वितीयः: second
• द्वितीयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (स्कन्धः)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• समुदितः: has arisen/has been composed
• समुदितः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उद्-इ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (स्कन्धः)

• स्कन्धः: canto/section
• स्कन्धः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• व्यासेन: by Vyāsa
• व्यासेन: Karana (करण/Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• धीमता: wise
• धीमता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (व्यासेन)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) / Anukramanika-style summary attribution to Vyasa

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa

FAQs

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

It frames the text as an authoritative Purāṇa by pointing to its classical marks (purāṇa-lakṣaṇa) and its cosmological teaching on the cause of creation, grounding spiritual inquiry in a structured sacred tradition attributed to Vyāsa.

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

Indirectly: by establishing that the Purāṇa contains the essential framework—cosmic origin and scriptural characteristics—within which later Vishnu-bhakti teachings and practices are presented as part of a coherent, Vyāsa-sanctioned revelation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes anukramaṇikā-style organization (systematic indexing/structuring of topics), aligning with śāstric method and textual discipline rather than a specific Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.