Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī

Index/Summary

Devanagari script

दशावतारकथनं स्रानादिपरिकीर्तनम् । ततो बदरिकायाश्च माहात्म्यं पापनाशनम् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

daśāvatārakathanaṃ srānādiparikīrtanam | tato badarikāyāśca māhātmyaṃ pāpanāśanam || 30 ||

Translation

پھر وِشنو کے دَش اوتاروں کی کتھا اور اسنان وغیرہ کے ودھان کا کیرتن بیان ہوتا ہے؛ اس کے بعد گناہ ناشک بدریکاشرم (بدری ناتھ) کی مہاتمیا بیان کی جاتی ہے۔

Word by Word

• daśa-avatāra-kathanam: narration of the ten incarnations
• daśa-avatāra-kathanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + avatāra (प्रातिपदिक) + kathana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—दशावतारस्य कथनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• snāna-ādi-parikīrtanam: description of bathing etc.
• snāna-ādi-parikīrtanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + parikīrtana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—स्नानादीनां परिकीर्तनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (sequencing adverb)

• badarikāyāḥ: of Badarikā (Badrinath)
• badarikāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: badarikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• māhātmyam: the greatness (glory)
• māhātmyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māhātmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• pāpa-nāśanam: sin-destroying
• pāpa-nāśanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—पापस्य नाशनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); विशेषणम् (qualifier) māhātmyam इत्यस्य

Speaker

Sage Nārada (in dialogue framework with Sanatkumāra), presenting a contents-summary

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Badarika (Badrinatha)

FAQs

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

This verse functions as an anukramaṇikā (contents cue), highlighting three purifying pillars: remembering Viṣṇu’s avatāras, performing śuddhi-oriented rites like sacred bathing, and honoring Badarikā’s tīrtha-māhātmya as a means for pāpa-kṣaya (removal of sin).

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

By foregrounding daśāvatāra-kathā, it points to bhakti through śravaṇa and kīrtana—devotional hearing and praising of Viṣṇu’s divine descents—supported by tīrtha-sevā and ritual purity practices.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It chiefly reflects kalpa/ācāra practice (ritual procedure and dharmic conduct) through “snāna-ādi” rites, emphasizing how prescribed observances at tīrthas are treated as spiritually efficacious in Purāṇic dharma.