Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 174

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

नरकेशसंवर्त्तेशनिधीश्वरकथा ततः । बलभद्रेश्वरस्याथ गंगाया गणपस्य च ॥ १७४ ॥

Transliteration

narakeśasaṃvartteśanidhīśvarakathā tataḥ | balabhadreśvarasyātha gaṃgāyā gaṇapasya ca || 174 ||

Translation

ต่อจากนั้นเป็นสัทกถาอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์เกี่ยวกับ นรกेशะ สํวรรตเตศะ และ นิธีศวระ; แล้วจึงเป็นเรื่องของ พลภัทรेशวระ ตลอดจนคงคา และ คณปะ (คเณศะ)

Word by Word

• narakeśa-saṃvartteśa-nidhīśvara-kathā: the account concerning Narakeśa, Saṃvartteśa, and Nidhīśvara
• narakeśa-saṃvartteśa-nidhīśvara-kathā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narakeśa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃvartteśa (प्रातिपदिक) + nidhīśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: नरकेश-सम्वर्त्तेश-निधीश्वर-विषया कथा

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Sequencer)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—क्रमवाचक (indeclinable: 'then/thereafter')

• balabhadreśvarasya: of Balabhadreśvara
• balabhadreśvarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: balabhadra (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: बलभद्रस्य ईश्वरः

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Sequencer)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—अनन्तर्यसूचक (indeclinable: 'then')

• gaṃgāyāḥ: of Gaṅgā
• gaṃgāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṃgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• gaṇapasya: of Gaṇapa (name/title)
• gaṇapasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction 'and')

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada Purana’s topical sequence, following Narada’s discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narakesha
• Samvarttesha
• Nidhishvara
• Balabhadreshvara
• Ganga
• Ganapati (Ganapa)

FAQs

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

It functions as an anukramaṇikā (index-verse), pointing the reader to upcoming kathās and māhātmyas—especially sacred names/sites connected with Īśvara (Śiva), Gaṅgā, and Gaṇapati—thereby framing pilgrimage and worship as organized, scripturally guided practice.

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

By listing specific divine narratives and revered forms (Īśvara, Gaṅgā, Gaṇapati), it signals bhakti through śravaṇa (hearing) and smaraṇa (remembering) of kathā, and through devotion expressed at holy sites and to sacred deities.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is primarily a structural catalog (anukramaṇikā) rather than a Vedāṅga teaching; its practical takeaway is textual organization—how Purāṇic material is systematically arranged for recitation, study, and ritual/pilgrimage reference.