Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

The Exposition of the Table of Contents (Anukramaṇī) of the Agni Purāṇa

Devanagari script

रामोक्तनीतिनिर्द्देशो रत्नानां लक्षणं ततः । धनुर्विद्या ततः प्रोक्ता व्यवहारप्रदर्शनम् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

rāmoktanītinirddeśo ratnānāṃ lakṣaṇaṃ tataḥ | dhanurvidyā tataḥ proktā vyavahārapradarśanam || 17 ||

Translation

ต่อมาคือคำชี้แนะด้านนิติ-การปกครองตามที่พระรามทรงสอนไว้; แล้วกล่าวถึงลักษณะของรัตนะ; จากนั้นสอนวิชาธนู (ธนุรวิทยา) และแสดงแนวทางปฏิบัติด้านคดีความ (วยวหาร)

Word by Word

• राम-उक्त-नीति-निर्देशः: instruction on policy spoken by Rama
• राम-उक्त-नीति-निर्देशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त, क्त) + नीति (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: रामेण उक्तायाः नीत्याः निर्देशः

• रत्नानाम्: of gems
• रत्नानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• लक्षणम्: characteristic/definition
• लक्षणम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Sequencing)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb): 'thereafter'

• धनुः-विद्या: archery (science of the bow)
• धनुः-विद्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: धनुषः विद्या

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Sequencing)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण

• प्रोक्ता: is declared
• प्रोक्ता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) > प्रोक्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि (Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; धनुर्विद्या (स्त्री) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• व्यवहार-प्रदर्शनम्: demonstration of legal procedure/practice
• व्यवहार-प्रदर्शनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवहार (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: व्यवहारस्य प्रदर्शनम्

Speaker

Narada (cataloguing topics in the Purana’s outline)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Rama

FAQs

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

It shows that the Purana preserves not only devotion and dharma, but also practical sciences—governance, gem-characteristics, martial training, and jurisprudence—so society can function in harmony with dharma.

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

Indirectly: by listing dharmic disciplines (nīti and vyavahāra) alongside other sciences, it implies that bhakti is supported by righteous social order and ethical conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Not a Vedāṅga proper, but allied śāstras are highlighted—Dhanurveda (martial science), Ratna-śāstra (gemology), and Vyavahāra (legal/judicial procedure) as applied knowledge within a dharmic framework.