Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । श्रृणु पुत्र प्रवक्ष्यामि पुराणं पद्मसंज्ञकम् । महत्पुण्यप्रदं नॄणां श्रृण्वतां पठतां मुदा ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

brahmovāca | śrṛṇu putra pravakṣyāmi purāṇaṃ padmasaṃjñakam | mahatpuṇyapradaṃ nṝṇāṃ śrṛṇvatāṃ paṭhatāṃ mudā || 1 ||

Translation

梵天说道：孩子啊，且听我说；我将宣说名为《莲华（Padma）往世书》的普拉那。此经能赐予众人广大功德——凡欢喜聆听者与诵读者皆得其福。

Word by Word

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriya (क्रिया/imperative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• putra: O son
• putra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधनविभक्तिः (8th/Vocative), एकवचनम्

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall expound
• pravakṣyāmi: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vac (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुषः (1st person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• purāṇam: Purāṇa
• purāṇam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• padma-saṃjñakam: named ‘Padma’
• padma-saṃjñakam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (of purāṇam); समासः—पद्मसंज्ञक (तत्पुरुषः: ‘padma’ as name)

• mahat-puṇya-pradam: bestowing great merit
• mahat-puṇya-pradam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक) + puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (of purāṇam); समासः—महत्पुण्यप्रद (तत्पुरुषः)

• nṝṇām: of men; for people
• nṝṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी विभक्तिः (6th/Genitive), बहुवचनम्

• śṛṇvatām: of those who listen
• śṛṇvatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: शृण्वत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः (वर्तमानकाले शतृ/Present active participle); पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• paṭhatām: of those who recite/read
• paṭhatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: paṭh (धातु)
• Form: पठत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः (वर्तमानकाले शतृ/Present active participle); पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• mudā: with joy
• mudā: Karana (करण/instrumental—manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्; भाववाचकः

Speaker

Brahma

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Padma Purana

FAQs

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

It frames Purāṇa study as a meritorious sādhana: joyful listening (śravaṇa) and recitation (pāṭha) of the Padma Purāṇa are declared to generate great puṇya, establishing the authority and benefit of Purāṇic transmission.

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

By praising śravaṇa and pāṭha done “with joy,” it aligns with bhakti’s mood: devotional hearing and recitation are emphasized as accessible practices that purify and uplift the listener/reciter.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights the discipline of correct recitation and study (pāṭha), which connects practically to Śikṣā (phonetics/recitation training) and Vyākaraṇa (clarity of words/meaning) as supportive tools for preserving and transmitting Purāṇic texts.