Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

The Description of the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa’s Table of Contents

Anukramaṇī

Devanagari script

कल्पप्रलयनिर्देशः कालमानं ततः परम् । लोकाश्चतुर्द्दश ततः कथिताः प्राप्तलक्षणैः ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

kalpapralayanirdeśaḥ kālamānaṃ tataḥ param | lokāścaturddaśa tataḥ kathitāḥ prāptalakṣaṇaiḥ || 25 ||

Translation

จากนั้นมีการแสดงเรื่องกัลปะและปรลัย; ต่อมาจึงอธิบายมาตราวัดแห่งกาลเวลา แล้วจึงพรรณนาโลกทั้งสิบสี่พร้อมลักษณะจำเพาะของแต่ละโลก

Word by Word

• कल्प-प्रलय-निर्देशः: description of (the) kalpa and dissolution
• कल्प-प्रलय-निर्देशः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; list-item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रलय (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वपूर्वक-तत्पुरुष-भावः: (कल्पस्य च प्रलयस्य च निर्देशः)

• काल-मानम्: measure of time
• काल-मानम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; list-item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कालस्य मानम्)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: क्रमवाचक (Sequencing adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival/sequencing adverb)

• परम्: next/further
• परम्: क्रमवाचक (Sequencing adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् (adverbial accusative)

• लोकाः: worlds
• लोकाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• चतुर्दश: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + दश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; लोकाः इति विशेष्यस्य

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: क्रमवाचक (Sequencing adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक

• कथिताः: are described/told
• कथिताः: क्रिया (Predicate; passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) → कथित (कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• प्राप्त-लक्षणैः: by/with those having the stated characteristics
• प्राप्त-लक्षणैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राप्त (कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (प्राप्तानि लक्षणानि येषां ते) — ‘लोकाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; तृतीया बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada Purana’s contents in an anukramanika-style summary, within the broader Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It frames cosmic time and world-structure (kalpa, pralaya, kāla-māna, and the fourteen lokas) as a teaching tool: seeing creation and dissolution as cyclical supports detachment (vairāgya) and a clearer orientation toward liberation.

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

Indirectly, it sets the backdrop for bhakti by showing the impermanence of cosmic arrangements—kalpas and pralayas come and go—encouraging the devotee to seek the eternal refuge (śaraṇāgati) of the Supreme rather than transient worlds.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to kāla-māna—technical time-reckoning used in Jyotiṣa (Vedic astronomy/astrology) for calendrics and ritual timing—supporting accurate scheduling of Narada Purana rituals, vratas, and observances.