Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 128

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

शाक्रं सौम्यं च नादेशं तोयेशं रुक्मिणीभवम् । योजनेशं वराहेशं द्वादशीशिवतीर्थकम् ॥ १२८ ॥

Transliteration

śākraṃ saumyaṃ ca nādeśaṃ toyeśaṃ rukmiṇībhavam | yojaneśaṃ varāheśaṃ dvādaśīśivatīrthakam || 128 ||

Translation

ศากฺระ, เสามฺยะ, นาเทศะ, โตเยศะ, รุกฺมিণีภวะ; โยชเนศะ, วราหேศะ; และศิวตีรถะอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์ที่เนื่องด้วยทวาทศี—ทั้งหมดควรระลึกด้วยภักติ।

Word by Word

• शाक्रम् (śākram): relating to Śakra/Indra

• सौम्यम् (saumyam): relating to Soma/the Moon

• च (ca): and

• नादेशम् (nādeśam): Nādeśa, ‘Lord of sound/resonance’ (a sacred epithet/place-name)

• तोयेशम् (toyeśam): Toyeśa, ‘Lord of waters’ (epithet/place-name)

• रुक्मिणीभवम् (rukmiṇī-bhavam): Rukmiṇī-bhava, ‘the Lord who is the beloved of Rukmiṇī’ (Kṛṣṇa/Vişṇu epithet)

• योजनेशम् (yojaneśam): Yojaneśa, ‘Lord of the yojana (measure/journey)’ (epithet/place-name)

• वराहेशम् (varāheśam): Varāheśa, ‘Lord Varāha’ (Vişṇu in the Boar incarnation)

• द्वादशीशिवतीर्थकम् (dvādaśī-śiva-tīrthakam): the Śiva-tīrtha connected with Dvādaśī (the 12th lunar day) / a holy ford of Śiva linked to Dvādaśī observance

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame; anukramanika-style recitation)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dvādaśī (tithi-linked observance implied)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Soma (Moon)
• Vishnu/Krishna (Rukmiṇī-bhava)
• Vishnu (Varāha)
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It functions as a mnemonic/anukramanika-style enumeration of auspicious divine epithets and sacred tirtha-references, encouraging smaraṇa (remembrance/recitation) as a meritorious puranic practice.

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

Bhakti is expressed here through nāma-smaraṇa: invoking revered forms and titles—especially Viṣṇu as Rukmiṇī-bhava and Varāheśa—alongside other divine associations, cultivating reverence and sacred memory.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The mention of Dvādaśī points to practical calendrical observance (tithi-based vrata practice), aligning ritual timing with the lunar day—an applied aspect of traditional jyotiṣa-style timekeeping used in vrata and tīrtha worship.