Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

The Anukramaṇī (Summary/Index) of the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa

Devanagari script

पूर्वजन्मकथा चैषां विक्रिया चा दिवस्पतेः । तीर्थयात्रा बलस्याथ द्रौपदेयकथानकम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

pūrvajanmakathā caiṣāṃ vikriyā cā divaspateḥ | tīrthayātrā balasyātha draupadeyakathānakam || 4 ||

Translation

ان کی پچھلے جنم کی کہانیاں بھی، اور دِوَس پتی (سورج دیوتا) کی عجیب تبدیلی بھی؛ پھر بَل (بلرام) کی تیرتھ یاترا، اور دروپدی کے پُتروں کا قصہ (بھی) ہے۔

Word by Word

• pūrva-janma-kathā: the story of the former birth
• pūrva-janma-kathā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + janman (प्रातिपदिक) + kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• eṣām: of these (beings)
• eṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vikriyā: the transformation/change
• vikriyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• divaspateḥ: of the lord of heaven (Sun/Indra)
• divaspateḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divaspati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• tīrtha-yātrā: the pilgrimage to sacred places
• tīrtha-yātrā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + yātrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• balasya: of Bala
• balasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• atha: then/and next
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; sequence marker (अनन्तरार्थक)

• draupadeya-kathānakam: the tale of the sons of Draupadī
• draupadeya-kathānakam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: draupadeya (प्रातिपदिक) + kathānaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) summarizing the forthcoming topics in the Narada Purana’s anukramaṇikā-style listing

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Divaspati)
• Balarama (Bala)
• Draupadi
• Draupadeya (sons of Draupadi)

FAQs

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

It functions as an anukramaṇikā (table-of-contents) verse, signaling that the Purāṇa will teach dharma through karmic continuity (previous-birth stories), divine portents (the Sun’s transformation), and merit-bearing practices like tīrtha-yātrā.

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

Indirectly: by highlighting kathā (sacred narrative) and tīrtha-yātrā as traditional supports for bhakti—hearing and remembering divine-linked histories and visiting holy places to deepen devotion and purify intention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is not a Vedāṅga teaching itself; however, it points to purāṇic organization and śāstra-method (anukramaṇikā), and it references the Sun (Divaspati), a common anchor for jyotiṣa-oriented calendrical and ritual timing in Vedic practice.