Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

The Outline (Anukramaṇī) of the Viṣṇu Purāṇa

Devanagari script

श्रीब्रह्मोवाच । श्रृणु वत्स प्रवक्ष्यामि पुराणं वैष्णवं महत् । त्रयोविंशतिसहस्रं सर्वपातकनाशनम् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrībrahmovāca | śrṛṇu vatsa pravakṣyāmi purāṇaṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ mahat | trayoviṃśatisahasraṃ sarvapātakanāśanam || 1 ||

Translation

శ్రీబ్రహ్ముడు పలికెను—వత్సా, వినుము; నేను మహావైష్ణవ పురాణమును ప్రవచించెదను; అది ఇరవైమూడు వేల శ్లోకముల పరిమాణమై, సమస్త పాతకనాశకము।

Word by Word

• श्रीब्रह्मा: Śrī Brahmā
• श्रीब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (honorific title)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वत्स: dear child
• वत्स: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall expound
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वैष्णवम्: Vaiṣṇava
• वैष्णवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पुराणम्)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पुराणम्)

• त्रयोविंशतिसहस्रम्: (consisting of) twenty-three thousand
• त्रयोविंशतिसहस्रम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रयोविंशति-सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक; त्रयोविंशति + सहस्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numerical)

• सर्वपातकनाशनम्: destroyer of all sins
• सर्वपातकनाशनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-पातक-नाशन (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + पातक + नाशन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष; विशेषण (of पुराणम्)

Speaker

Brahma

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It frames the Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa as a purifying scripture: attentive hearing and transmission of its teaching is presented as a means to destroy sin (pātaka) and establish dharma through devotion to Viṣṇu.

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

Bhakti begins with śravaṇa (hearing). By inviting the listener to “hear” a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa, the verse emphasizes devotional reception of Viṣṇu-centered teachings as a primary practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A practical anukramaṇikā-style detail is given: the textual extent (twenty-three thousand verses), reflecting traditional cataloging and transmission discipline used in śāstric study.