Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

The Outline (Anukramaṇī) of the Viṣṇu Purāṇa

Devanagari script

कलिजं चरितं प्रोक्तं चातुर्विध्यं लयस्य च । ब्रह्मज्ञानसमुद्देशः खांडिक्यस्य निरूपितः ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

kalijaṃ caritaṃ proktaṃ cāturvidhyaṃ layasya ca | brahmajñānasamuddeśaḥ khāṃḍikyasya nirūpitaḥ || 16 ||

Translation

已宣说迦梨时代之行状，并阐明“溶解/归灭”（laya）的四种分类；又依卡汉迪迦（Khāṇḍikya）之教，概述了梵知（Brahma-jñāna）。

Word by Word

• कलिजम्: pertaining to the Kali age
• कलिजम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कलि + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम्—चरितम् ('born in/pertaining to Kali [age]')

• चरितम्: conduct/deeds (account)
• चरितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रोक्तम्: is expounded
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; अर्थः—'told/expounded'

• चातुर्विध्यम्: fourfold classification
• चातुर्विध्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चातुर्विध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• लयस्य: of dissolution
• लयस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ब्रह्मज्ञानसमुद्देशः: outline/summary of Brahma-knowledge
• ब्रह्मज्ञानसमुद्देशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + ज्ञान + समुद्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—ब्रह्मज्ञानस्य समुद्देशः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• खाण्डिक्यस्य: of Khāṇḍikya
• खाण्डिक्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खाण्डिक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• निरूपितः: is described
• निरूपितः: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + रूप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; अर्थः—'set forth/defined'

Speaker

Suta (narrating the chapter contents in an anukramaṇikā-style summary)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kali-yuga
• Pralaya
• Brahman
• Khāṇḍikya

FAQs

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

It functions as a chapter-synopsis verse, pointing to three major themes—Kali-yuga conduct, the fourfold pralaya doctrine, and a concise teaching on Brahman—linking ethics, cosmology, and liberation-knowledge.

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

Direct bhakti details are not stated here; however, by highlighting Kali-yuga conduct and Brahma-knowledge, it signals the Purana’s method of guiding practice (ācāra) and higher realization—two foundations that elsewhere culminate in Vishnu-centered devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No single Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is named in this verse; the practical takeaway is doctrinal classification—especially the structured teaching of pralaya (cosmic dissolution) used in Purāṇic cosmology.