Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Dvādaśī-vrata: Month-by-month Viṣṇu Worship and the Year-End Udyāpana

Devanagari script

नानाख्यानेतिहासाड्यं गङ्गामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मसुतो भूयः पृष्टवानिदमादरात् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

nānākhyānetihāsāḍyaṃ gaṅgāmāhātmyamuttamam | śrutvā brahmasuto bhūyaḥ pṛṣṭavānidamādarāt || 4 ||

Translation

Выслушав превосходнейшее величие Ганги, изобилующее множеством повествований и древних преданий, сын Брахмы вновь с почтением задал этот вопрос.

Word by Word

• नाना: various
• नाना: Samasa-upapada (उपपद/Compound member)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; बहुविधार्थक (various)

• आख्यान: narratives
• आख्यान: Samasa-upapada (उपपद)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (as compound member)

• इतिहास: histories/legends
• इतिहास: Samasa-upapada (उपपद)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतिहास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (as compound member)

• आड्यम्: abounding in
• आड्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आड्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तृतीया/सप्तमी-भावार्थे तत्पुरुषः (नानाख्यान-इतिहासैः आड्यम् = rich with various narratives and histories)

• गङ्गा: of Gaṅgā
• गङ्गा: Samasa-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive) as compound member

• माहात्म्यम्: the greatness (glory)
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गङ्गायाः माहात्म्यम्)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of माहात्म्यम्

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• ब्रह्मसुतः: Brahmā’s son
• ब्रह्मसुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः सुतः)

• भूयः: again/further
• भूयः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरर्थक क्रियाविशेषण

• पृष्टवान्: asked
• पृष्टवान्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (perfect participle used as finite), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग (active sense)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ (cause)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing Brahmā’s son’s inquiry)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Brahmā
• Brahmā’s son (Brahmasuta)

FAQs

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

It highlights śravaṇa (devotional listening) of tīrtha-māhātmya: hearing Gaṅgā’s glory—supported by ākhyāna and itihāsa—naturally awakens reverence and prompts further inquiry, a key Purāṇic method for transmitting dharma.

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

By emphasizing attentive hearing (śrutvā… ādarāt), it points to bhakti’s foundational practice of śravaṇa—listening to sacred praise and accounts—which deepens faith and leads to purposeful questioning and continued engagement with the teaching.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it underscores itihāsa-ākhyāna as an instructional framework used in Purāṇas; while not a technical Vedāṅga lesson, it models how traditional narrative pedagogy supports dharma and ritual orientation around tīrthas.