Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

अश्वमेधकथा राज्ञो ब्रह्मलोकगतिस्तथा । रथयाव्राविधिः पश्चाज्जन्मस्थानविधिस्तथा ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

aśvamedhakathā rājño brahmalokagatistathā | rathayāvrāvidhiḥ paścājjanmasthānavidhistathā || 26 ||

Translation

ที่นี่กล่าวถึงเรื่องยัญอัศวเมธของพระราชา การไปถึงพรหมโลก ต่อด้วยพิธีรธยาวรา และกฎเกณฑ์ว่าด้วยสถานที่ประสูติอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์ (ชันมะ-สถานะ)

Word by Word

• अश्वमेध-कथा: the account of the Aśvamedha sacrifice
• अश्वमेध-कथा: कर्म (कर्मपद/Item enumerated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वमेध (प्रातिपदिक) + कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘story of the Aśvamedha’

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन — ‘of the king’

• ब्रह्मलोक-गतिः: the journey to Brahmaloka
• ब्रह्मलोक-गतिः: कर्म (कर्मपद/Item enumerated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मलोक (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘going to Brahmaloka’

• तथा: also; likewise
• तथा: समुच्चय (Conjunctive adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अव्यय-प्रकार (adverb/particle) — ‘and also/likewise’

• रथयात्रा-विधिः: the procedure for the chariot procession
• रथयात्रा-विधिः: कर्म (कर्मपद/Item enumerated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथयात्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘procedure of the chariot-festival/procession’

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb) — ‘afterwards’

• जन्मस्थान-विधिः: the rule/rite concerning the birthplace
• जन्मस्थान-विधिः: कर्म (कर्मपद/Item enumerated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मस्थान (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘procedure regarding the birthplace (sacred site)’

• तथा: also
• तथा: समुच्चय (Conjunctive adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अव्यय-प्रकार (adverb/particle) — ‘and also’

Speaker

Narada (in an anukramanika-style enumeration to Sanatkumara and the sages)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Aśvamedha (yajña, not a vrata) / Rathayāvrā (rite)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Brahmaloka

FAQs

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

This verse functions as an anukramaṇikā (contents index), highlighting that the text teaches both ritual narratives (like Aśvamedha) and their stated fruits (such as Brahmaloka), along with specific rite-procedures (vidhi) connected to vows and sacred places.

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

Indirectly: by listing rites, vows, and sacred-site rules, it points to structured dharmic practice that can be performed with devotion—where ritual action (karma) becomes devotion when offered with reverence to the divine and to dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through the repeated use of “vidhi,” indicating prescriptive guidance for yajña/vrata performance and for proper observance related to sacred locations (kṣetra/janmasthāna).