Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

The Description of the Index (Anukramaṇikā) of the Padma Purāṇa

Devanagari script

यथा चंचेंद्रियः सर्वः शरीरीति निगद्यते । तथेदं पंचभिः खंडैरुदितं पापनाशनम् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

yathā caṃceṃdriyaḥ sarvaḥ śarīrīti nigadyate | tathedaṃ paṃcabhiḥ khaṃḍairuditaṃ pāpanāśanam || 2 ||

Translation

Kung paanong ang bawat nilalang na may katawan ay sinasabing may mga pandamang hindi mapirmi, gayon din ang aral na pumupuksa sa kasalanan na ito ay inilahad sa limang bahagi.

Word by Word

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/correlative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (comparative adverb)

• cañca-indriyaḥ: restless-sensed
• cañca-indriyaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cañcala (प्रातिपदिक) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (of sarvaḥ/śarīrī); समासः—चञ्चेन्द्रिय (कर्मधारयः: ‘restless in senses’)

• sarvaḥ: everyone; the whole (person)
• sarvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-शब्दः

• śarīrī: an embodied being
• śarīrī: Karta (कर्ता/subject—appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘शरीरवान्’ (one who has a body)

• iti: as; thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative particle)

• nigadyate: is said/called
• nigadyate: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + gad (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive)

• tathā: so; likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/correlative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तथाशब्दः (correlative adverb)

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• pañcabhiḥ: with five
• pañcabhiḥ: Karana (करण/instrumental—means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (संख्यावाचक) तृतीया विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (of khaṇḍaiḥ)

• khaṇḍaiḥ: sections; parts
• khaṇḍaiḥ: Karana (करण/instrumental—means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• uditam: is declared; set forth
• uditam: Kriya (क्रिया—participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud + i (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः (Past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘उक्तम्/प्रकाशितम्’

• pāpa-nāśanam: destroyer of sin
• pāpa-nāśanam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (of idam/purāṇam implied); समासः—पापनाशन (तत्पुरुषः)

Speaker

Narada (continuing an anukramanika-style framing of the text)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It teaches that, despite the restlessness of the senses in embodied life, the Purana’s instruction—organized into five sections—functions as a pāpanāśana (sin-destroying) guide for purification and right orientation to dharma.

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

By acknowledging the mind-and-sense instability of the embodied condition, the verse implies the need for structured sacred teaching; such ordered instruction supports steady practice, which is essential for sustained Vishnu-bhakti even when the senses are fickle.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The emphasis is on textual organization and systematic exposition (an anukramanika approach) rather than a specific Vedanga; it reflects the method of arranging teachings into clearly defined divisions for study, recitation, and application in dharma and ritual life.