Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

रामतीर्थादिकथनं लक्ष्मीतीर्थनिरूपणम् । शंखादितीर्थमहिमा तथा साध्यामृतादिजः ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

rāmatīrthādikathanaṃ lakṣmītīrthanirūpaṇam | śaṃkhāditīrthamahimā tathā sādhyāmṛtādijaḥ || 52 ||

Translation

ராமதீர்த்தம் முதலியவற்றின் உரை, லக்ஷ்மீதீர்த்தத்தின் விளக்கம், சங்கம் முதலிய தீர்த்தங்களின் மகிமை, மேலும் சாத்யாம்ருதம் முதலியவற்றால் தொடங்கும் வரலாறு—இவை இங்கே கூறப்படுகின்றன।

Word by Word

• रामतीर्थ-आदि-कथनम्: the account of Rāma-tīrtha and others
• रामतीर्थ-आदि-कथनम्: Karma (कर्म) / Uddeśya (उद्देश्य) (enumerated topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रामतीर्थ + आदि + कथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• लक्ष्मीतीर्थ-निरूपणम्: the exposition of Lakṣmī-tīrtha
• लक्ष्मीतीर्थ-निरूपणम्: Karma (कर्म) / Uddeśya (उद्देश्य) (enumerated topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मीतीर्थ + निरूपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: लक्ष्मीतीर्थस्य निरूपणम्

• शङ्ख-आदि-तीर्थ-महिमा: the glory of the tīrthas beginning with Śaṅkha
• शङ्ख-आदि-तीर्थ-महिमा: Karta (कर्ता) / Uddeśya (उद्देश्य) (enumerated topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख + आदि + तीर्थ + महिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—शङ्खादीनि तीर्थानि (tīrthas such as Śaṅkha) तेषां महिमा

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (connective)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable); अव्यय-प्रकारः—समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक (connector/enumerator: 'and also/likewise')

• साध्य-अमृत-आदि-जः: arising from Sādhya-amṛta and the like
• साध्य-अमृत-आदि-जः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (qualifier; elliptical construction)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध्य + अमृत + आदि + ज (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण from √जन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); 'ज' = from √जन् (जनीँ—प्रादुर्भावे), sense: 'born of/produced from'; compound indicates 'from Sādhya-amṛta and the like'; agrees with an implied masculine head (e.g., 'महिमा/वर्णनः' not explicit)

Speaker

Suta (Anukramanika-style chapter summarizing the contents of the Narada Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Laksmi
• Shankha

FAQs

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

It functions as an anukramaṇikā (table-of-contents) marker, signaling that the text will explain the glory (mahimā) and dharmic value of specific tīrthas—pilgrimage places regarded as spiritually purifying.

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

Indirectly: by foregrounding tīrtha-mahātmya, it points to devotional practice expressed through yātrā (pilgrimage), remembrance of sacred names, and reverence for divine-associated places such as those linked with Rāma and Lakṣmī.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is taught in this verse; it is a structural summary. Practically, it cues ritual practice around tīrthas—such as bathing (snāna), offerings, and observances—topics typically treated under Purāṇic dharma rather than technical Vedāṅga instruction.