Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

The Narration of the Brāhma Purāṇa’s Account

Brāhma Purāṇānukramaṇikā

Devanagari script

प्रवृत्तिः सर्वशास्त्राणां पुराणादभवत्ततः । कालेनाग्रहणं दृष्ट्वा पुराणस्य महामतिः ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

pravṛttiḥ sarvaśāstrāṇāṃ purāṇādabhavattataḥ | kālenāgrahaṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā purāṇasya mahāmatiḥ || 23 ||

Translation

一切圣典（śāstra）的流传与弘布皆由《往世书》而起。其后，那位大智大德者见到随岁月推移，《往世书》已不再被如法领受与牢记，便采取措施以护持并弘传之。

Word by Word

• प्रवृत्तिः: origin/commencement
• प्रवृत्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्वशास्त्राणाम्: of all scriptures
• सर्वशास्त्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वाणि शास्त्राणि)

• पुराणात्: from the Purāṇa
• पुराणात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अभवत्: arose/came to be
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: therefrom/then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-आर्थक (ablatival adverb)

• कालेन: by time / in course of time
• कालेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अग्रहणम्: non-acceptance/neglect
• अग्रहणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of 'दृष्ट्वा')
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्रहण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), 'having seen'

• पुराणस्य: of the Purāṇa
• पुराणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• महामतिः: the great-minded one (sage)
• महामतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महती मतिः)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Anukramanika-style summary to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Purana

FAQs

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

It presents the Purāṇa as a foundational vehicle of dharma-knowledge: when time causes forgetting, the wise ensure sacred teachings remain accessible through Purāṇic transmission.

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

By emphasizing preservation and dissemination of Purāṇic teaching, it supports Bhakti indirectly—since Purāṇas are primary sources for narrating the Lord’s names, deeds, and dharma that nourish devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the principle of śāstra-pravṛtti (scriptural transmission): safeguarding, teaching, and organizing knowledge when it is neglected over time—an applied discipline supporting all Vedic learning.