Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43
The Description of the Glory of the Purāṇa
Purāṇa-Māhātmya
यथा श्रेष्ठा नदी गंगा पुष्करं च सरो यथा । काशी पुरी नगो मेरुर्देवो नारायणो हरिः ॥ ४३ ॥
yathā śreṣṭhā nadī gaṃgā puṣkaraṃ ca saro yathā | kāśī purī nago merurdevo nārāyaṇo hariḥ || 43 ||
جیسے دریاؤں میں گنگا سب سے برتر ہے اور جھیلوں میں پُشکر؛ جیسے شہروں میں کاشی اور پہاڑوں میں مِیرو اعلیٰ ہے—ویسے ہی دیوتاؤں میں نارائن (ہری) سب سے برتر ہیں۔
Narada (teaching in a didactic, summary style within the Anukramanika context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It establishes a hierarchy of “supreme exemplars” (best river, lake, city, mountain) to affirm the theological conclusion that among all devas, Nārāyaṇa/Hari is the highest refuge and object of worship.
By declaring Hari as supreme among the gods, it directs devotion toward a single, highest Lord (Nārāyaṇa), encouraging focused Vishnu-bhakti rather than scattered worship.
No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it functions as a Purāṇic anukramaṇikā-style statement that supports ritual and pilgrimage priorities by identifying foremost tīrthas and the supreme deity.