Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Anukramaṇī (Synoptic Table of Contents) of the Śrī Bṛhannāradīya Purāṇa

Devanagari script

वसुशापश्च मोहिन्यै पश्चादुद्धरणक्रिया । गंगाकथा पुण्यतमा गयायात्रानुकीर्तनम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

vasuśāpaśca mohinyai paścāduddharaṇakriyā | gaṃgākathā puṇyatamā gayāyātrānukīrtanam || 12 ||

Translation

پھر موہنی پر وُسُوؤں کی لعنت، اس کے بعد نجات کی رسم؛ نہایت پُرثواب گنگا کی کتھا اور گیا یاترا کا بیان آتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• वसु-शापः: the curse of the Vasus
• वसु-शापः: Karta (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक) + शाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• मोहिन्यै: to/for Mohinī
• मोहिन्यै: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन (dative singular)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb: ‘afterwards’)

• उद्धरण-क्रिया: the act of deliverance/rescue
• उद्धरण-क्रिया: Karta (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्धरण (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• गंगा-कथा: the story of the Gaṅgā
• गंगा-कथा: Karta (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गंगा (प्रातिपदिक) + कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• पुण्यतमा: most holy
• पुण्यतमा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तमप् (तद्धित/तरप्-तमप्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; अतिशयवाचक (superlative) विशेषणम् (qualifying गंगाकथा)

• गया-यात्रा-अनुकीर्तनम्: the recounting of the Gayā pilgrimage
• गया-यात्रा-अनुकीर्तनम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक) + यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुकीर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Nārada (summarizing contents to the Sanatkumāra brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vasus
• Mohinī
• Gaṅgā
• Gayā

FAQs

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

It functions as an anukramaṇikā (table-of-contents) marker, pointing to themes of karmic consequence (a curse), remedial/redeeming ritual (uddharaṇa-kriyā), and the purifying power of tīrthas—especially Gaṅgā and Gayā—whose remembrance and pilgrimage are declared highly merit-giving.

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

By highlighting kathā and anukīrtana—devotional hearing and recounting of sacred narratives (Gaṅgā-kathā, Gayā-yātrā)—the verse indicates bhakti as practiced through śravaṇa and kīrtana, where remembrance of holy places and their glories becomes a means of inner purification.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to applied ritual knowledge (kalpa-oriented practice): specific kriyās for deliverance and tīrtha-related observances (yātrā, associated rites). It is less about grammar/astronomy here and more about procedural dharma and pilgrimage-ritual frameworks.