Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

The Description of the Index (Anukramaṇikā) of the Padma Purāṇa

Devanagari script

नित्यलीलानुकथनं यत्र कृष्णावतारिणः । माधवस्नानमाहात्म्यं स्नानदानार्चने फलम् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

nityalīlānukathanaṃ yatra kṛṣṇāvatāriṇaḥ | mādhavasnānamāhātmyaṃ snānadānārcane phalam || 22 ||

Translation

அங்கே கிருஷ்ணாவதாரமாக இறங்கிய பரமனின் நித்திய லீலைகள் இடையறாது சொல்லப்படுகின்றன; மேலும் மாதவ ஸ்நானத்தின் மஹிமையும், ஸ்நானம்-தானம்-அர்ச்சனை ஆகியவற்றின் பலனும் விளக்கப்படுகின்றன।

Word by Word

• नित्य-लीला-अनुकथनम्: the recounting of the eternal divine play
• नित्य-लीला-अनुकथनम्: Karta (कर्ता/उद्देश्यवाचक सूची-आइटम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + लीला (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुकथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘नित्यायाः लीलायाः अनुकथनम्’

• यत्र: wherein
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: ‘where/wherein’)

• कृष्ण-अवतारिणः: of the one incarnating as Krishna
• कृष्ण-अवतारिणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘कृष्णस्य अवतारिणः’ (of the one who incarnates as Krishna / of Krishna-incarnate)

• माधव-स्नान-माहात्म्यम्: the glory of the Mādhava-bath (ritual bath)
• माधव-स्नान-माहात्म्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/उद्देश्यवाचक सूची-आइटम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘माधवस्नानस्य माहात्म्यम्’

• स्नान-दान-अर्चने: in bathing, charity, and worship
• स्नान-दान-अर्चने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः: ‘स्नानं च दानं च अर्चनं च’ (in bathing, giving, and worship)

• फलम्: the result/benefit
• फलम्: Karta (कर्ता/उद्देश्यवाचक सूची-आइटम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (summarizing topics to the Sanatkumara brothers in an anukramanika/contents style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Mādhava-snāna

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Madhava (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It highlights two core means of merit and purification: sustained remembrance through Kṛṣṇa’s līlā-kathā and disciplined practice through Mādhava-snāna, dāna, and arcana—linking devotion with ritual observance.

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

Bhakti is emphasized through nitya-līlā-anukathana—regular, ongoing narration and hearing of the Lord’s Kṛṣṇa-avatāra deeds—making remembrance and praise a daily devotional discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice is foregrounded: guidelines and expected phala (results) of snāna (purificatory bathing), dāna (regulated charity), and arcana (formal worship), aligning with kalpa-style procedural dharma rather than grammar or astrology.