Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21
The Narration of the Brāhma Purāṇa’s Account
Brāhma Purāṇānukramaṇikā
ब्रह्मोवाच । श्रृणु वत्स प्रवक्ष्यामि पुराणानां समुच्चयम् । यस्मिञ्ज्ञाते भवेज्ज्ञातं वाङ्मयं सचराचरम् ॥ २१ ॥
brahmovāca | śrṛṇu vatsa pravakṣyāmi purāṇānāṃ samuccayam | yasmiñjñāte bhavejjñātaṃ vāṅmayaṃ sacarācaram || 21 ||
బ్రహ్మ పలికెను— వత్సా, వినుము; నేను పురాణాల సముచ్చయాన్ని చెప్పుదును; అది తెలిసినచో చరాచర జగత్తుకు సంబంధించిన సమస్త వాంగ్మయం తెలిసినట్లే అవుతుంది।
Brahma
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It elevates Purāṇa-study as a comprehensive gateway to understanding the world and scripture: knowing the Purāṇic compendium is presented as effectively knowing the entire “verbal” body of knowledge about all beings—moving and unmoving—thus supporting both dharma and liberation-oriented insight.
While not naming bhakti directly, it frames Purāṇas as the all-inclusive teaching medium; in the Narada Purana this typically includes Hari/Vishnu-centered narratives, vows, and praises, implying that immersing in Purāṇic teaching naturally supports devotional orientation and steady remembrance of the Divine.
The verse emphasizes vāṅmaya (the domain of articulated knowledge), aligning most closely with Vyākaraṇa (grammar) and broader śāstric learning as a structured body; it suggests that a Purāṇic compendium functions as an integrated digest of many disciplines rather than a single technical Vedāṅga.