Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 177

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

कुमार्याः क्षेत्रपास्य ब्रह्येशस्य कथा पृथक् । पिंगलासंगमेशस्य शंकरार्कघटेशयोः ॥ १७७ ॥

Transliteration

kumāryāḥ kṣetrapāsya brahyeśasya kathā pṛthak | piṃgalāsaṃgameśasya śaṃkarārkaghaṭeśayoḥ || 177 ||

Translation

กล่าวแยกเป็นตอนถึงเรื่องของกุมารี ของเกษตรปาล และพรหมเยศะ และยังมีเรื่องของปิงคลา-สังคเมศะ ตลอดจนศังกร อรกะ และฆเฏศะด้วย

Word by Word

• कुमार्याः: of the maiden (Kumārī)
• कुमार्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• क्षेत्र-पास्य: of Kṣetrapa (field-guardian)
• क्षेत्र-पास्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः—‘क्षेत्रस्य पासः/पाशः’ (protector/guardian of the field; Kṣetrapā)

• ब्रह्य-ईशस्य: of Brahyeśa (Lord Brahmā/Brahman)
• ब्रह्य-ईशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्य (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेदः सम्भाव्यः ‘ब्रह्म’) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः—‘ब्रह्य/ब्रह्मणः ईशः’ (Lord of Brahman/Brahmā)

• कथा: the account
• कथा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable); अव्यय-प्रकारः—क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: separately/distinctly)

• पिङ्गला-सङ्गम-ईशस्य: of Piṅgalā-saṅgameśa (Lord of Piṅgalā confluence)
• पिङ्गला-सङ्गम-ईशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिङ्गला (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः—‘पिङ्गलायाः सङ्गमः’ (confluence of Piṅgalā) तस्य ईशः

• शंकर-अर्क-घट-ईशयोः: of Śaṅkarārkaghaṭeśa (the two: Śaṅkara-īśa and Arka-ghaṭeśa)
• शंकर-अर्क-घट-ईशयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + घट (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual); द्वन्द्वः—‘शंकरार्कघटेशौ’ (Śaṅkara-īśa and Arka-ghaṭeśa as two deities/places)

Speaker

Sage Narada (enumerating topics to Sanatkumara in an anukramanika-style summary)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Kumari
• Kshetrapala
• Brahmyesha
• Sangamesha
• Shankara (Shiva)
• Arka (Surya)
• Ghatyesha

FAQs

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

This verse functions as an anukramanika (topic-index) line, indicating that distinct mahatmyas (sacred accounts) of multiple kshetra-deities and tirtha-lingas—especially Śiva and allied shrine-forms—will be narrated separately, emphasizing the Purana’s role as a guide to holy places and their merits.

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

By naming specific shrine-forms (Kṣetrapāla, Saṅgameśa, Śaṅkara, etc.), it points to place-based devotion—pilgrimage, darśana, and worship of the presiding deity of a kshetra—as an accessible bhakti practice supported by Purāṇic narration and remembrance (kathā-śravaṇa).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it supports Purāṇic anukramaṇī-style organization (a technical listing method) useful for ritual planning—identifying which kshetras and deities have separate narratives for vrata, tirtha-yatra, and temple procedure—rather than teaching a specific Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa in this line.