Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

ग्रहाणामर्चनं दानं यत्र प्रोक्तं द्विजोत्तम । तत्सृष्टिखंडमुद्दिष्टं व्यासेन सुमहात्मना ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

grahāṇāmarcanaṃ dānaṃ yatra proktaṃ dvijottama | tatsṛṣṭikhaṃḍamuddiṣṭaṃ vyāsena sumahātmanā || 7 ||

Translation

Hỡi bậc tối thượng trong hàng Nhị sinh, phần kinh nơi dạy việc thờ phụng các thần tinh tú (graha) và việc bố thí, đã được bậc đại tâm Vyāsa chỉ định là “Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa” (Phẩm về Sáng tạo).

Word by Word

• ग्रहाणाम्: of the planets
• ग्रहाणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अर्चनम्: worship
• अर्चनम्: कर्म/विषय (Karma/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दानम्: gift/charity
• दानम्: कर्म/विषय (Karma/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय/देशवाचक (relative adverb: 'where')

• प्रोक्तम्: is stated/taught
• प्रोक्तम्: कर्मणि-प्रयोगे विधेय (Predicate in passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/कर्मणि-भूतकृदन्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; √वच् (to say) with उपसर्ग प्र-

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• द्विजोत्तम: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'श्रेष्ठः द्विजः'

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म/विषय (Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• सृष्टिखण्डम्: the section on creation
• सृष्टिखण्डम्: कर्म/विषय (Predicate nominative/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि + खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'सृष्टेः खण्डम्'

• उद्दिष्टम्: is indicated/declared
• उद्दिष्टम्: कर्मणि-प्रयोगे विधेय (Predicate in passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; √दिश् (to point out/indicate) with उपसर्ग उद्-

• व्यासेन: by Vyāsa
• व्यासेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• सुमहात्मना: (by) the very great-souled
• सुमहात्मना: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'सु-महात्मा' (very great-souled), qualifying व्यासेन

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing Vyasa’s classification of sections (khāṇḍas)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Grahāḥ (planetary deities)

FAQs

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

It identifies graha-worship and charitable giving as part of the Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa, implying that aligning oneself with cosmic order (sṛṣṭi) is supported through ritual honoring of grahas and purifying acts of dāna.

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

Though not explicitly naming Vishnu-bhakti here, it frames worship (arcana) and selfless giving (dāna) as sanctioned devotional disciplines within the Purāṇic framework, preparing the practitioner for higher devotion through reverence and generosity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to applied Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology) via graha-related worship practices, coupled with dāna as a ritual-ethical remedy often prescribed alongside planetary observances.