The various aspects of the Narada-Purana

The Narada Purana [naradapuranam] / By Pt. Anant Shastri Phadake; Formerly Professor of Purana, Sanskrit University, Varanasi. / 83-100

srinaradapuranam anantasastri phadake [In this article the learned author has dealt with the various aspects of the Narada-Purana. In the beginning of the article he has tried to establish that the Purana is the most ancient literature from which even the Veda sprang. Originally the Purana the only literature on the basis of which all religious and social rites were performed. Later on it was also used as the dharmasastra, arthasastra, nitisastra etc. According to the author, in Krtayuga only the Purana existed, in Dvapara the Vedas and the Puranas, and in the middle of Dvapara were the Vedas, the Puranas and the other Sastras. At the end of the Dvapara Vyasa codified the Vedas and the Puranas; and after him the Sutas, the narrators of the Puranas, played an important role in the evolution of the Puranas. After discussing the origin and the development of the Purana and other allied literature the writer has discussed the problem of the Naradiya Purana. Dr. Wilson was of the opinion that neither the present Narada Purana nor the Brhannaradiya Purana is the real Narada-Purana. But here the author has proved the authenticity of the Brhannaradiya Purana and proved it as the real Purana. The Narada-Purana published from Moradabad consists of 42 chapters. The other one published from Venk., bears the name Brhnnaradiya Purana and consists of two parts, the first part of 125 chapters and the second part of 82 chapters. The first 41 chapters of both the Puranas are the same. 50 verses of the 42nd ch. of Na. Purana tally with ch. 125 of Part I of the

84 puranam - PURANA [Vol. VIII., No. 1 Brh. N. P. and the remaining 31 verses of ch. 42 are the same as the last 31 verses of ch. 82 of the Part II of Br. N. Purana. Thus all the Slokas of the Narada P. are available in the Brhan-Naradiya. The author has also given some useful details of the interlocutions of the Brhan-Naradiya Purana, and also has briefly dealt with the subject-matter of this Purana, specially the contents of the 18 Mahapuranas given in the Brhannaradiya.] srinarada puranasya svarupa- samaya nirdharana mahattva- itarapuranato vaisistyadivive- canatpurvam samksepena sarvasamanyam puranavisayakavivecanam kartumucitam pratibhati | prayah sarvapuranesu puranapradurbhavasamaya-svarupanirnaya kramasovardhanaprakaradikam samupalabhyate, parantu vidvadbhistadvisesato'dya yavannalocitamiti sakhedam kathyate | pracinabharatiya vaidikavanmayatah purvam puranapradurbhavo'jayata | pracinabharatiyavaidikavanmayatah vedastatah sarvasastrani ca - puranam sarvasastranam prathamam brahmana smrtam | anantaram ca vaktrebhyo vedastasya vinirgatah || matsya 53 tato vaidika-sarvasastrapradurbhavatpurvam puranasya pradurbhavah, anantaram ca vedah | tatah sarvasastrani | ayam kramah prayah sarvatropalabhyate | paramatipracine kale purane- naikenaiva manavanam trivargasiddhih samapadyata tacca tada satakotiparimitamasidetadapi prayah purane sarvatra samupalabhyate - puranamekamevasittada kalpantare'nagha | trivargasadhanam punyam satakotipravistaram || matsya 53 tatha revama 0 1|23|30 tasminnatipracine kale vaidikamantrasadhyadharmikah sarvah kriyastatharthasastra- prabhrtini sarvani sastrani dharmakamamoksasadhakani puranadvaraiva sampadyante sma | pratyuta tada puranapadenaiva samprati bhinnanam veda-sastra-tantra - kaladibodhyanam granthanam vyavaharo

Jan. 1966] srinaradapuranam 85 nayate sma | etatsarvam puranamekameva padasamudayena, trivargasadhanapadena ca bodhyate | taccativistrtatvad niyatagananarahitattvacca satakotipravistaramiti kathitam | na tu tatra gananayamavasyakam slokadikamuktam | kintu kevalam samkhya satakotityukta, sampratikairasmabhih sampratikakalpananusaram slokapadamadhyahrtyarthah kriyate | tatasta- sminkale vigate tata eva puranapadavacyacchatakotisankhyakagrantharaserbrahmana veda avirbhutah tatah sastrani ca | brahmana ye srsta mantrarasayaste kevalam vedapadabodhya eva na tu rgadirupanamasamyuktah, ata eva dvaparante narayana- svarupavyasenaikavedasya rgadirupena krtah vibhagah samgacchante | 1 rgadivedesu bahutranekadevata- gandharvapsaras- ayurvediyane kausadhi-rogadini- varakamanimantradiyuddhopayogikavacasastradi-grhasthitapadartha- vastrabhusana vyapara parimana- nagaragramadika aneke visayah prasangatah samagatastesam vistara svarupa-nirmana- vrddhyadikramabodhakah grantha vedaditah purvam syuriti niscayena vaktum sakyate, kadacitte lipibaddha na bhaveyuh parantu gurusisyaparamparaya sambhaveyuh, anyathaikajatiya- parasparabhedasiddhapadarthavarnanam katham samgaccheta | upalabdhanekasajatiyaparasparabheda- varnanaparah granthastada puranarupaikamahati granthe antarbhutah syuratah purananamekam laksanam "pura paramparam vakti puranam tena vai smrtam " ityapyupalabhyate | ato vedanam pradu- rbhavadanantaram tattadvisayabodhakani sastrani puranata eva pradurbhutaniti kalpanocita pratibhati | ata eva "pravrttih sarvasastranam puranadabhavattatah | " ( na0 pu0 92|23 ) uktam samgacchate | evam ca trivargasadhaka purana rupaikagrantharaservedanam sarvasastranam ca pradurbhavo'bhavat | trivargasadhanam dharmakamamoksarupatrivargasya sadhakam | atisaramapracine kale vedasastradipradurbhavatpurvam puranamekamevasit | sa ca kalo vayu-visnu-markandeyapuranadisu varnita upalabhyate | yatha - dharmadharmau na va castam nirvisesah prajah tu tah | tulyamayuh sukham rupam tasam tasmin krte yuge || prthvirasodbhavam nama ahara hyaharanti vai | tah prajah kamacarinyo manasim siddhimasthitah || 1 - vyadadhadyajnasantatyai vedamekam caturvidham | rgyajuhsamatharvakhya vedascatvara uddhrtah || bhaga0 1 | 4 | 16-20 |

86 puranam -- PURANA [Vol. VIII., No 1 parvatodadhisevinyo hyaniketasrayastu tah | visokah sattvabahula ekantasukhitah prajah || tada satyamalobhasca ksama tustih sukham damah | abuddhipurvakam vrttam prajanam jayate svayam || apravrttih krtayuge karmano subhapapayoh | varnasramavyavasthasca na tadasan na samkarah || tasam visuddhasamkalpajjayante mithunah prajah | sukhapraya hyasokasca utpadyante krte dhyanam param krtayuge tretayam dvapare yajnamevahuh .... yuge || jnanamucyate | || vayu 8|47-64 sarvapranijatasukhakarakasya krtayugiya kalasya varnanam drstva svabhavikyeva tatkalikaprajanam dharme, kame, mokse ca pravrttirasidata evayam dharmo'yamadharma iti vibhedasyavasyakata nasideva | idam ca "dharmadharmau na tasvastam " ityanena bodhitam | svabhavikam dharmacaranam ca "tasam satyamalobhasca " "abuddhipurvakam vrttam " ityanena sphutikrtam | kamarthamartharupadvitiyapurusarthasyapeksa nasideva | tacca "prthvirasodbhavam nama " ityadivarnanena bodhitam | "visokah sattvabahulah " "ekantasukhitah " ityanena moksarupapurusarthapraptih sucita | "tasam visuddha- samskarajjayante mithunah " ityanena visuddhakamapurusarthavatvam pradarsitam | "varnasramavyavasthasca na tadasan " ityanena varnasramadyavalambya pravrttavedadikanam tada'bhava eva spastam pratipaditah evam ca dharma-kama- moksanam svabhavatah eva sampadakah so'tiparamapracinah krtayugarupakalah puranamatra- nirdista asit | tatra kevalam puranasyaiva pradurbhavastadasit "puranamekamevasit " "trivargasadhakam punyam " ityanena bodhitam | evam puranadipradurbhavakrama ittham bodhayitum sakyate- (1) krtayugam, brahma, puranamekameva, dharmakamamoksah purusarthah | ( 2 ) dvaparah (3) dvaparamadhye vedah puranam ca, dharmarthakamamoksah purusarthah | "" vedah puranam sastrani ca rara " 99

Jan. 1966] srinaradapuranam 87 tadatve puranadvedadipradurbhavadanantaramapi puranamekameva, ato vede puranasabda ekavacanamatra evopalabhyate | yatha - "rcah samani cchandamsi puranam yajusa saha | ucchistajjajnire " ( atharvasam0 11 /7/24 ) "sa brhatim disamanu- vyacalat | tamitihasah puranam ca ' (atharvasam0 15 /6 ) evam gopa . bra . pu . bha . pra . 2 satapa . ba . 11|4|7-9 ; 13|4|313, brhada . 2|4|11 chando0 7|1|3 ityadisu puranadikasya vanmayarupenaikavacanantena ca samullekho drsyate | sa trtiyakalika sthitibodhakah | ata eva "rcah samani cchandamsi ' ityatharvamantre "ucchistajjajnire " iti padam sarthakam bhavati | prathamata ekapuranarupatpradurbhuto vedarupamantrarasi rucchistam tasmacca punaryajnasamtatyai dvaparante vyasadevadvara rcam samnam chandasam yajusam ca pratibhinnanam pradurbhutanamanantaramavasista eko rasih puranarupa evakhyanadisahitah sthitah | tato vyasadevena vedavibhagakaranadanantara- makhyanadibhirvisistah puranasamhitah krtah --- akhyanaiscapyupakhyanairgathabhih kalpasuddhibhih | puranasamhitasva ke puranarthavisaradah || visnu 0 3|6|15 tadatve vyasakrtastadasapuranasamhitanamitihasasya jayanamakasya ca prthak svarupam laksanam ca yatharthamasot | itihasasyakhyanagathadibhiramisritattvat | yatha sukranitau- pragvrttakathanam caikam rajakrtyamisaditah | yasminsa itihasah syatpuravrttah sa eva hi || puranalaksanam - sargasca pratisargasca vamso manvantarani ca | vamsanucaritam caiva puranam tatprakirtitam || sukani 0 4|3|51-52 evam ca puranetihasayoh svarupam tada parasparabhinnam vispastamasit | parantu vyasena vaisampayanam prati proktam caturvimsatisahasraslokatmakam bharatam yatha SSkhyanadi- ( 1 ) atra visnupurane tikayam sridharasvamibhirakhyanadikanam svarupamuktam - svayam drstarthakathanam prahurakhyanakam budhah | srutasyarthasya kathanamupakhyanam pracaksate || gathastu kalpasuddhih pitrprthiviprabhrtigitayah | sraddhakalpadinirnayah || iti

88 puranam-- PURANA [Vol. VIII., No. 1 bhirekalaksaslokatmakam sutena sampaditam tatha srimata vyasadevenapi mulaikapuranad veda-sastrapradurbhavadanantaram yadavasistam yatpuranam tasya vrddhistatkalapracalitairakhya- nadibhih krta- akhyanaiscapyupakhyanairgathabhih kalpasuddhibhih | puranasamhita (tam )sca cakre puranarthavisaradah || visnuh 3, 6, 15 tathaiva bhavisyapurane'pi puranani sarvani militva dvadasasahasraralokatma- kanyasan | parantu akhyanadibhirvrddhim gataniti pratipaditam--- sarvanyeva puranani samjneyani nararsabha | dvadasaiva sahasrani proktaniha manisibhih || punarvrddhim gataniha akhyanairvividhairnrpa || bhavi-pu0 brahmaparva a0 1, 104-105 evam ca samprati, itihasapuranayorvispastam svarupam nopalabhyate, ubhayorakhya- nadibhirmilitatvena samanarupena vidyamanatvat | evam ca vyasadevena purvasthitam puranamavalambyakhyanadibhih sabhedam puranavrddhi- karanam sampaditam | vyasadevena yah puranasamhitah krtastasam svarupam namani ca kaniti visaye kimcit vaktum sakyate | samupalabdhairakhyanadibhih puranavardhanam sampadayanti smeti vaktum sakyate yatah- saunakadyastu rsayo jnatva bhusasya svargatim | gatva sutam pranamyocurdharmam mukhyam vadadhuna || tebhyah sutah puranani atra bhupasya svargatim nama purvasrutanyapi puranani punah sutah ( 1 ) idam satasahasram tu lokanam upakhyanaih saha jneyamadyam sravayamasa vai punah || bhavi0 pratisarga0 kham0 2 a0 23 vikramadityamaranam | jnatva saunakadibhih tan sravayamasa | etenettham pratibhati punyakarmanam | bharatamuttamam || caturvimsati sahasrom cakre bharatasamhitam | upakhyanairvina tavad bharatam procyate budhaih || adipa0 11101-103

Jan. 1966] srinaradapuranam 89 vyasokta puranani sutenakhyanadibhirvrddhi nitani, sa saunakadin punah sravaya- masa | nocecchratanam punah sravanam nopapadyate | kinca "savaryeva puranani 0 " " dvadasaiva sahasrani 0 " "punarvrddhim gataniha akhyanai0 " ityadipurvapradarsita- bhavisyapuranoktavacanairvyasadevakrtapurananam svarupam dvadasasahasraslokatmakameva- sit | vyasoktani puranani tanyavalambya sapadacaturlaksislokatmakam vanmayam sutadibhirnirmitam | vyasoktani puranani sambhavato vyasottarakale adipuranasada- vacyani bhaveyuryato'nekatra puranesu adipurananam samullekho drsyate | yatha - harivamse bhavisyaparvaprarambhe yuktam- tatha- tatha srnusvadipuranesu vedebhyasca yatha srutam | || srnusvadipuranesu devebhyasca yathasrutam || padmapu0 1139|11 srnusvavahito bhutva kathametam puratanim | proktam hyadipuranesu brahmanavyaktamurtina || vamana0 1|20 evam ca vyasoktapurananam sutoktapuranesvantarlinatvatsuta sthitikale sutena- khyanadibhistatkalopalabdhaih puranasamskara karanatpurvam tani vyasoktanyadipuranapada- bodhyani bhaveyuriti vaktum sakyate | tatha ca purananukramakaladyevam varnayitum sakyate- (1) krtayugam brahma puranameva dharmakamamoksasadhakam satakotipravistaram | ( 2 ) dvaparah 17 puranam vedasca dharmadicaturvidhapurusarthah | ( 3 ) dvaparamadhyah vedah, sastrani, puranam ca 99 " ( 4 ) dvaparantah kaliprarambhah, vedavyasah vedah sastrani, puranasamhita adipurana- padavacyah purusarthacatustayasadhikah | ( 5 ) kalau vyasah sutadisca brahmadyastadasapuranani caturlaksaslokatmakani | sarvapurusarthah ( 6 ) kalau vikramamarananantaram punah sravanamusapuranapadabodhyani puranani || samskarakah vyasah sutasca | 12

90 puranam- PURANA [Vol. VIII., No. 1 bhavisyatpuranapratisargaparvacaturthakhandasthalom kaih ( 6 ) sankhyakam vrttamusa- labhyate- punarvikramabhupena bhavisyati samahvayah | naimisaranyamasadya sravayisyati vai katham || punaruktani tanyeva puranastadasani vai | tani copapuranani bhavisyanti kalau yuge || a0 1 ito'pyanantaram puranesvaneke samskara jata iti naradapuranasthasarvapurana- visayasucya mahattvavarnanaprasange pradarsayisyamah | dvaparante vyasadevenatimahacchata- kotivistaratpuranad tadanimtana janasaktihasadi drstva caturlaksamitam bhuloke raksitam devaloke'dyapi sarvam tisthati | satam padarthanam vinasabhavattadyogye samaye karyanirvahartham tesam satta prayah sargadisu bodhyate | yatha - vayupurane - pragukta ya maya tubhyam purvakalam prajastu yah | tasmin samvartamane tu kalpe dagdhastadagnina || aprapta yastapolokam janolokam samasritah | pravartante punah sarge bijartham ta bhavanti hi || 2 upo0 pa0 8|23-24 tatha mahabharate - sastim satasahasrani cakaranyam ca samhitam | trimsatsatasahasram ca devaloke pratisthitam || ekasatasahasram tu manusesu pratisthitam || 1|105-107 atrayam puranavisaye kramah prathamata ekasatakotipravistaramekameva puranam purusartha- trayasadhakam tato vedapradurbhavah sa veda eka eva | tatah sastrani | caturvidha- purasarthasadhakani | dvaparante vyasadevenaikavedaccatvaro vedah, caturlaksapuranani ca udghrtani | tato vyasaih sutaisca tatkalasthitakhyanadibhirusapuranani krtani | astamidam | samprati naradapuranalaksanadikam vivecayisyamah- naradapuranalaksanam svayam naradapurane matsyapurane cettham likhitam - srnu vipra pravaksyami puranam naradiyakam | pancavimsatisahasram brhatkalpakathasrayam ||

Jan. 1966] srinaradapuranam 91 yatraha narado dharman brhatkalpasrayani ca || (naradapu097 ) pancavimsatsahasrani naradiyam taducyate || (matsya0 53|23 ) anena laksanenedam jnayate brhatkalpavrttantayutam pancavimsatsahasraslokakam ca naradapuranam vidyata iti | samprati tu samusalabhyamananaradamahapurane brhatkalpasya sambandhastu vidyata eva parantu slokasankhya dvavimsatisahasrani vidyante, slokanam sahasratrayi tu nopalabhyata eveti kecana | - pascatyasamskrtajnapandita daॉ0 ec0 ec0 vilsanamahodayo naradapurana- mavalambya likhati naradapuranasya samprati slokah sahasrani trinyupalabhyante, ato mahapuranarupena naradapuranam kathamapi svikartum na sakyate, idam puranam sodase saptadase va satake samgrhitam bhaktibodhakam vidyate, tatha brhannaradiyapuranamapi visnoh stutibodhakamevam vaisnavanam kartavyacaranabodhakam puranamastiti | parantu naitattasya matam samucitam pratibhati | yato naradapuranasyollekho ballalasenakrtadanasagare dvadasasatadvayamsthita hemadrikrtadanakhande ca vidyate | tatha ekasahasramite khristadve bharate samagatayavanayatrina "alabaruni " samjnakena svakiye granthe naradapuranasya samullekhah krto vidyate | anenettham jnayate daॉ0 vilsanamahodayena prathamadhyayatah saptatrimsadadhyayaparyantameva naradiyam puranamusalabdham syattena daॉ॰ mahodayenatastatha likhitam parantu samprati sampurnasya naradapuranasyopalabdhestasya matam na pramanakoti- matikate | samprati brhannaradiyamahapuranavisaye bharatiyesu kascana vibhramo vidyate, tathahi adya yavat sarvatra puranaparayane pravacane ca dvacatvarimsadadhyayatmakameva muradabada- mudritam naradapuranam svikriyatesma | brhannaradiyam tu yadvastavikam mahapuranam tadupeksitam sadusapuranesu ganayanti sma | kadacinnaradapuranena saha brhacchabdasya- prayogopalabdhya mulam naradapuranamupabrmhitam sat brhannaradiyam jatamata etad brhannaradiya- puranamupapurane ganayitva yadvastuto'purnam bhramena tathaiva mudritam tanmahapuranesu ganayitva mahapuranatvena prasiddhim gatam | parantvasya bhramasya niraso gate varse kartikasuklapakse navamitah purnimaparyante samaye srimatparamastikasresthadvinavarakasi- rajamaharajaih pravartite padmanabhamandire naradapuranapravacanaprarambhe jatah | muradabada-

92 puranam - PURANA [Vol. VIII., No. 1 mudritam bhasatikayutam tatha mumbai vemkatesvara mudritam brhannaradiyapuranam iti purana- dvayamaniya samalocyobhayoh samananupurvikatvam vacana vaiparityam vicarya ca nirnayakaranasamaye samsayo jatah | tathahi vemkatesvaramudrayantramudritanaradapuranagrantha- syavarane naradiyamahapuranamiti lekhane'pi pratyadhyayam samaptau "itisribrhannara- diyapurane " iti likhitamupalabhyate | muradabadanagare mudrite naradapurane "narada- purana " mityeva lekha upalabhyate, ante ca 42 adhyayante naradapurana samaptamiti lekhopalabhyate, ato naradamahapuranam vastutah kiyatparimanamitijijna- sayamubhayoradhyayaslokanam samalocanamavasyakam jatam, tatkrte ittham parijnata- mubhayagranthe ekacatvarimsadadhyayah slokascaikarupa eva| muradabadamudrite yo dvacatvarimsodhyayah sa vemkatesvaramudrite 125 adhyayo'sti | tatrapi pancasa- cchlokah samanah, vemkatesvaramudrite 125 adhyayah pancasacchlokanta eva tatra ca purvo'rdho'pi samapta eva | purvarddha ca catvarah padah santi | murada- badamudritanaradapurane 42 adhyayah santi padavyavastha purvottararddhadivyavastha ca nasti | 42 adhyaye 50 slokebhyo 'nantaramekatrimsachloka adhikah santi, evam 81 slokairadhyayah samapyate puranamapi tatraiva samaptam | ete ekatrimsacch- lokah kutratya iti jijnasayam vemkatesvaramudrite brhannaradiyapurane sthitasyottara- bhagasya 82 adhyayasya 32 slokebhyo 'nantaram samananupurvikasta upalabhyante | etesu tesu slokesu kevalam puranamahatmyam puranam kena kasmai pathitamityadikam vidyate | tatrapi muradabadamudrite 40 tamah sloko nasti, sa etadrso vidyate- pancavimsatsahasri samhiteyam prakirtita | pancapadasamayukta krsnadvaipayanena ha || iti | muradabada nagare yavadadhyayaslokatmakamarthat 42 adhyayatmakam purana- musalabdham tatra ca samaptamiti ca lekho drstah syattatra "pancavimsatsahasri " ityadi- sloko na syadeveti ucitameva | noce ' tpancavimsatsahasri ' slokadarsanena (1) muradabadabhasatikasahitamnaradapuranam, pataka samjnaka patrikayam samvat 1666 subhe rsikumararamacandrasarmana sampadya 6 | 3 | 47 sankale sammudraya prakasitam |

Jan. 1966] srinaradapuranam 93 kathamatyalpam prayastrisahasraslokatmakamidamityavasyam mudraka sampadakayoscetasi samdeha udiyadeva | anenettham kalpyate svarucyanusaram kenacitsvaparayanam kartum brhannara- diyapuranadiyadadhyayaslokatmakam bhagam vilikhya "pancavimsatsahasri " iti viruddha- ilokam niskasya ca svakaryam sampaditam syattadeva muradabadanagarasthamudraka sampada- kabhyamupalabdham bhavet | tadeva bhasatikayutam sarvatra labdhapracaram naradapuranam mahapuranantarbhutamiti matva pravacanaparayanaparamparayam bhramena svikrtam sallabdhapratistham jatamiti manye | evam vidvatsu dvitiyo bhramo'yamasit brhannaradiyam nama puranam muradabada mudritapuranapeksaya brhadvidyate parantu tadupapuranam mahapuranam tu samprati nopalabhyata eveti | yatha matam pascatyaviduso da0 vilasan mahodayasyasit | parantu vastutah brhacchabdo na parimanabodhakah kintu purvapradarsitamatsyanaradapuranokta- naradapuranalaksanenaitannaradapuranam padmapuranam yatha padmakalpe kale sravitam tathaiva brhatsamjnakakalpe sravitamityarthasya bodhakam brhatpadam | idam vistarata etadartham kathitam pracalita sramanivararthameva | upapurane'pyekam naradapuranam samupalabhyate, yathasutasamhitayamupapuranaganana- prasange likhitam samupalabhyate- sastham tu naradiyakhyam kapilam saptamam viduh || iti | astamidam | itarapuranapeksaya naradapurane sarvapurananam laksanaihsaha pratipadyavisayanam prayo mukhyamsanam sucika, adhyayah slokanam bodhika yadisyatpada - purvottara bhagavyavastha sapi varnita'sti | tena samprati samupalabhyamanesu mahapuranesu kiyantomsah pracinah kiyantasca navinah sampradayabhimanibhih samyojitah, luptasceti samyaktaya jnatum sakyate | yadyapi matsyadipuranesu kesucitpuranalaksanani kasmin kalpe kasya puranasya pradurbhavo'tisamksepena svarupadikam caste, parantu naradapuranatulanaya tadativasamksiptamasti | kecana naradapuranasya purananam visayasucika na pracina kintu navina kenacinnirmaya yojiteti vadanti | atah sucikayah pracinatve vicara- karanamatyavasyakam tena naradamahapuranasya pracinatvam tatra nirdistanam purananam tato'pyatipracinatvam samsidhyet | atastadeva prarabhyate | visnupuranasya laksanadikam

94 puranam - PURANA [Vol. VIII., No. 1 matsye naradamahapurane cedrk samupalabhyate- varahakalpavrttantamadhikrtya parasarah | yatpraha dharmanakhilamstaduktam vaisnavam viduh || trayovimsatisahasram tatpramanam vidurbudhah || iti matsye 53 naradapurane - srnu vatsa pravaksyami puranam vaisnavam mahat | trayovimsati sahasram sarvapatakanasanam | yatradibhage nirdistah sadamsah saktijena ha || evam pracalitavisnupurananamna prasiddhavisnupurane yatha sadamsasthavisaya vidyante tathaiva sucikayamapi nirdistam | tatah uttarabhagavisayasucika evam vidyate - uttarabhage - atah parastu sutena saunakadibhiradarat | prstena coditah sasvadvisnudharmottarahvayah || nanadharmakathah punya vratani niyama yamah | dharmasastram carthasastram vedantam jyotisam tatha | ityadiprakarena visnudharmottarapuranasthavisayan samsucyante - etadvisnupuranam vai sarvasastrarthasamgraham || ityupasamhrtam | etatpradarsanenettham samsadhyate naradapuranaprokta visnupuranasuci kasamaye visnupuranam sadamsatmakam visnudharmottaram caikasyaiva puranasya sadamsatmakah purvabhagah, visnudharmottarakhyananadharmakatha - jyotisadirupa uttarabhagah, evam ca militvaikamiva visnu purananamna vyavahriyamanam trayovimsatisahasraslokatmakam puranamasit | srisankaracaryanam samayatah purvameva naradapuranasucikapradarsitavyavastha lupta lokanam smrtisathannirgateti ca vaktum sakyate | yatah srisankaracaryairvisnupuranam visnudharmo- ttarapuranam ca bhinnatvenangikrtam | tairvisnusahasranamabhasye likhitam "visnupura- nante sriparasarenopasamhrtam | 'yasminnyastamatiriti " iti pracalite visnupurana- namna prasiddhe sadamsatmake saptasahasraparimitaslokatmake purane "yasminnyastamatih " slokah sasthamsasyastamadhyaye pancapancasatsanakhyako vidyate'rthadante evasti | evam ca

Jan. 1966] q. srinaradapuranam 95 srisankaracarya api visnupuranasya samaptih sampratyasmabhiryatha manyate tathaiva manyante sma | tatha visnusahasranamabhasye parthakyena namanirdesam visnupurana- visnudharmottarabhya pramanani grhnantisma | evam ca visnupuranam visnudharmottarapuranam ca sarvatha bhinnameva na tvekasyaiva granthasya purvottarabhagarupamiti vyavaharah samprati yatha pracalitah tesam samaye tathaivasit | ato naradapuranasthavisnupuranasucika srisankaracaryebhyah paramapracine tatkale vismrteti ca kathanena bhasamaneyam visangatih parihartum sakyate nanyatha | evam ca matsyapuranokte visnupuranalaksane " trayovimsatisahasra '' miti slokavarnanamapi purvottarabhagarupamekamevapuranamiti svikare sangacchate | samprati visnu- purananamna prasiddhe visnupurane saptasahasrasloka upalabhyante, tatha visnudharmottara- namna sarvatha bhinnatvena svikriyamane purane ( vyankatesvarayantramudrite ) prayo vimsati- sahasrasloka labhyante ( etacchulokadhikyam murtivarnanadina samadhikacatuh sahasraslokai- vrddhamityadiyatharthasamalocanamarhati ) | visnudharmottare sthitajyotisamsamavalambya brahmaguptena sviya jyautisam likhitamiti suryasiddhantatikakaroktih sangacchati, yato- naradapuranasthavisnupuranasucikayam jyautisamso'sti | evam ca naradapuranoktamatsya- puranoktavisnupuranalaksanena trayovimsatisahasraslokatmakam purvottarabhagayutamekameva puranam srisankaracaryatah purvatarakale loke prasiddhamasidatah khristabdapancasatyah purvam naradapuranasthasarvapuranasucika, naradapuranam tathanyani puranani abdanam pancasa- titah purvam pradurbhutani na tu sarvatharvacinaniti niscayena vaktum sakyate | tatah purvam kada pradurbhutaniti na niscayena vaktum sakyate yato'tharvavede puranasya grantharupatvena samullekho'stiti purvam pradarsitameva | naradapuranasthasarvapuranavisayanam mahatyah sucyah sarvapuranavisayanam pracinatva- nutanatva-praksepatva-niskasana nyunikaranatvadi vicare mahanupayogo 'stiti niscapracam | yatha visnudharmottare naradapuranokta- vedantamso'tyalpa upalabhyate | naradapuranenanirdista visaya murtinirmanadayo'ti- 1 -"yo'ham sattvam jagaccedam sadevasuramanusam | avidyamohitatmanah purusa- bhinnadarsinah iti visnupurane " iti "pavitranam pavitram yah " iti visnusahasranama dasama slokavyakhyane tatha - "yacchandamannama yasya tattasminneva vastuni 10 " iti visnudharmottaravacanat "iti trayodasaslokavyakhya prarambhe | evam yani namani gaunaniti slokavyakhyayamiti |

96 puranam -- PURANA [Vol. VIII., No. 1 vistrta vidyante | tatha slokasankhyapi trayovimsatisahasrito'dhika vidyante | asya vastavikam yatharthabhutam vivecanam anyada karisyamah | naradapuranastham pratipuranasucikamavalabya kiyantom 'sah pracinah kiyantasca sampradaya pravatam kairmelitah kiyantasca niskasita alpatvam va nita ityadikam jnatum sakyam | yatha - padmapurane pakhandinam laksanam mayavadaninda tamasapurananam laksanam, urdhvapundradidharanaprasamsa, dvaitasya prasamsa ityadayah | tatra pakhandilaksane - sankhacakordhvapundradicihaih priyatamairha reh | rahita ye dvina devi te vai pakhandinah smrtah || padma0 u0235 /5 ityadayah samprati puranesupalabhyamana etebhyah sampradayebhyo 'titarapracine samaye vyasaviracitapuranesu nopalabhyeran | yato naradapuranasthapadmapuranasucikayam tem'sa na vidyanta eva | evam tamasasastrani ( padmapu0 135, 2-13 ) tamasapuranani ( padma0 pu0 235, 18-26 ) varnitani | tatra matsya-kurma- linga-siva-skanda purananam, gautama-brhaspati-samvarta-yama-usanas sankhyasmrtinam ca narakapradatvamudghositam | etadrsa amsah praksiptah bhaveyuh parantu tan drstva te mulavyasaviracite purane bhaveyuriti matva ca sarvatha purananyatinutananiti kathanam kesancanadhunikanam na sobhatetaram | astam | etatsarvam vivecanam naradapuranastha- sarvapuranavisayasucidarsanena kartum sakyata iti naradapuranasthasarvapuranavisayasucya atimahatvam puranavivecane'stiti nirvivadam parantvadyayavatsa visayasucyupeksitai- vasit | samprati naradapuranasya svarupam sampratyubhalabhyamanaslokadikam ca vivicyate- naradapuranasya svarupam, yatha- yatraha narado dharman brhatkalpasrayani ca | pancavimsatsahasrani naradiyam taducyate || matsyapu0 53|23 srnu vipra pravaksyami puranam naradiyakam | pancavimsati sahasram brhatkalpakathasrayam || nara0 pu0 97 evam ca purvottarabhagayutam pancavimsatisahasraslokatmakam naradapuranam naradapurana-

Jan. 1966] srinaradapuranam 97 visayasuci pradurbhavakala asit | samprati tu dvavimsatisahasrasloka upalabhyanta iti kecana | asmabhih krtayam gananayam vimsatisahitadvisatottarastadasasahasrasloka upalabdhah | tathahi purvarddha 12809 evamuttararddha 5411 militva 18220 | astu | atra naradapurane purvarddha catvarah padah | tatra prathamapade prathamadhyayatah 41 adhyayaparyantam sanako vakta naradah prasta | dvitiyapade 42 adhyayatah 62 adhyayaparyantam sanandano vakta srota prasta ca naradah | 63 adhyayatah 91 adhyayaparyantam trtiyapade sanatkumaro vakta prcchako naradah | 93 adhyayatah 125 adhyayaparyantam caturthapade sanatano vakta prasnakarta naradah | atra purvarddha saunakadikan prati sutah sanakadibhirnaradaya yadupadistam puranam tatkathayati | uttararddha tu sarvatha narada rseh sambandha eva nasti kintu mandhata prasta tatha vasistho vakta | evam saunakadikan sautih kathayati | mandhatrvasisthasamvadatah praptam naradapuranottararddha naradapurananamake purane kathamantarbhavaniyamiti prasnah samudeti, parantu naradapuranasthasvapuranasucikayam samprati yathopalabdhasyottararddhasya visayanam samupalabhyamanatvattannaradapuranantargatamevottararddhamiti mantavyam | sarvatra puranopakrame naimisaranyanivasino harim sahasravarsatmakasatrena yajantah saunakadayah samagatam sutam prcchanti sma | naradapuranopakrame tu siddhasrame'neka- prakarairyajnaih paramesvaram yanantam sutam saunakadaya rsayo gatva prasnamakurvanniti kramo vidyate | te saunakadaya rsayastatra gatvagnistomena narayanam yajantam sutam dadrsuh | atra sutena manusyasvabhavam jnatva prathamata eva puranasravane yogyatam pradarsayitum kecana siddhantah proktaste tvavasyam sarvairyeya eva | yatha - ( 1 ) satkathasu pravartante sajjana ye jagaddhitah | nindayam kalahe vapi hyasantah papatatparah || (2) puranesvarthavadatvam ye vadanti naradhamah | tairarjitani punyani ksayam yanti dvijottamah || 1154-55 (1) te tu narayanam devamanantamaparajitam | yajantamagnistomena dadrsu romaharsanim || narada pu0 1|26 sambhavatah ayamagnistomayajnah puranokta eva | 13

98 puranam - PURANA (3) naro yah satkathamadhye sambhasam kurute'nyatah | sa yati narakam ghoram tadekagramana bhavet || [Vol. VIII., No. 1 srota vakta ca viprendra esa dharmah sanatanah || 1|73-74 anye visistamsa atranyatra samkalita eva | purananam visaya idam visesato dhyatavyam vicaraniyam casti | dvaparante pradurbhutena vyasadevena tadanimtananam jananam buddhi-saktihasadikam drstva tadatve sthitasyaikadevasya yajnarupaprayojanamuddisya rgvedadidvara vibhagah krtah | tatra vedaproktayajnaphalasiddhyartham svarena matrayapi vedoccarane vaiparityam na bhavatviticchaya padakramanataghanadidvara pailaprabhrtisisyadvara vedaraksartham tadatve mahan prayatnah krtah | ato vedavanmayam prayo himalayadarabhyaramesvaram samhitabhagarupamekasvarupa- mevopalabhyate | parantu puranadivanmayanupurviraksane na tadrsah prayatnah krtah | kintu puranadisvarthajnanaraksanartham samanyarupenaiva prayatnah krtah | sutasca artha raksayitum tada tada yathecchanupurvya tattatkale samajikaghatanam rajnam ca sthitim samalocya vyasopadistamargena brahmana naradayopadistapathamanusrtya yajnartham diksitan saunakadin tadddvara ca tattaddesasthasamanikamsca naimisaranyadisthalesu gatva gatva sravayati sma | tatra brahmanopadistam vyasapradarsitamuddistamekameva vidyate | yatha - idam bhagavatam nama yanme bhagavatoditam | samgraho'yam vibhutinam tvametadvipuli kuru || yatha harau bhagavati nrnam bhaktirbhavisyati | sarvatmanyakhiladhara iti samkalpya varnaya | bhaga0 2|7|51-52 ityuddesyam tanmargam canusrtya sarvesam srotrnam sviyayogyatanusaram sviyaradhye bhakti-cittaikagrya-santosa-raga-dvesadirahityam tadddvara samajasthiti-raksana- vardhanam janesu samanyesvapi jnanavijnanam ca bhavatviticchaya pravrttastattatkalikah sutadaya ekarupameva "sargasca pratisargasca " iti puranalaksanamasritya tatratyam " vamsanucaritam caiva " iti ghatakamasritya tattatkalikarsi- brahmana-ksatriya-vaisya-sudradikanam caritadivarnanabhedena puranani bhidanti sma | tatranupurvya raksane vedavad visesa-

Jan. 1966] srinaradapuranam 99 prayatnabhavenaneke pathabhedah parasparaviruddha api sambhavantiti nascaryam | sampratikesu tricatuhsatabditah purvam pradurbhutesu tulasiramayanadisu pathabhedah sambhavanti, tatra kimu vaktavyamanekasahasravarsebhyah purvam pradurbhutapuranavanmayavisaye | yatkevalam srotrvaktr-gurusisyaparamparaya karnanukarnasravanadvara lipilekhanatpurvam raksitam | puranairbharatiyanam hrdayesu dharmika samskara vrata-devata - veda-darsana-dharmasastradi- bharatakhandadikam ca drdham susthiram ca kilakavannivesitama balyatsusthiramantah pravista- maste | tattu sampratikairdharmanirapeksaih kevalamitihasapratyaksadipramanadvara satyamartha - mamilipsubhih kadapi yatnasatairapi na niskasayitum ca sakyam | etadeva bhagavato vyasadevasya krsnadvaipayanasya pancasahasravarsaparyantam jagatitale visesato bharate ca dharmikam darsanikam cadarsabhutam samrajyam vidyate | yacca jati-desa-dharma-sampradaya- acara-bhasadibhirbhedaih kadapyucchettum na sakyate | agre'pi tathaiva suniscitam suniscalam ca sthasyatyeva | bhumavasyamaneke samrajah samagata vinastasca tatra kesam ca na namanyapi na sruyante | parantu vyasadevasya janasvantesu nirvirodham baddhadaram samrajyam tisthatyeva | puranavanmaya jatena bharatiya janamanassu paramesvarasraddha - purvajanmavisvasa- paramesvarasraddha-purvajanmavisvasa- krtakarmaphalavasyabhoktrtva-prabhrtayo'neke guna bharatiyetara durlabha antahsthapita- sviram niscalatam gatah, samprati durataramadhonipatitan, daridran, pascatyabhautika- siddhicaka cikyacakitan kimkartavyamudhan utkocaparayanan sarvatah satru- bhirakrantanasi samuddhareyuriti niscapracam | , etatsarvam tadaiva sambhavitum sakyeta yada puranavanmayasya vastavikam satyam svarupamane kavidvatsamalocitam nispaksapatarahitam praya idameva satyamiti sarvairangi- kriyamanam sarvesam krte visuddharupam samupalabhyeta | tattu bahuvisista vidvatatparisrama- bahudravyavyaya- bahukalasadhyam ca samasti | pradesarajyaih kendrarajyena ca tatsampadayitum sakyate | etadarthamuttarapradesarajyadvara sri da0 sampurnanandamahodayaistadatve mukhyamantribhih samalocyaitatkaryam sampadayitumeka samitih samayojita, yatrahamapyeko ghataka asam | parantvanyakaryavattadapi sobhanam karyamagre na pracalitamityaho durbhagyam bharatiyanam |

100 puranam -- PURANA [Vol. VIII., No. 1 asyam sthitau paramastikairisvaradayapatrairmaharanaih kasinaresairmahata dravyavya- yenanekavisistavidvatsamghatitaya 'khilabharatiya purananidhisamitya sucaru sapramana- manekahastalikhitagranthasampadanapurvakam puranavisayasamsodhanasampadanadikarya sampadyate, tattavadativa mahaniyam sarvesam krte adarsabhutamabhutapurvam sarvatha samsuddhamastikadi- hrdayagrahi sambhavisyatityasasmahe | purvam vyamkatesamudrayantradidvara mudritaistadadhikaribhirvidvadddvara sampaditaih kalakatta-maharastra-gujarata-madrasaprabhrtidesaprakasitaih puranaistatkale janesu mahanusakarah samajaniti niscitam | parantu tanitastatah svasamipadesasthopalabdhai- rhastalikhitairdvitraih pustakaih pathabhedan samyojya prakasitani | na tatra sarva- bharatiya desasthagranthapathanam samayojanam jatam | paramtu tena prakasanenaiko gunah samjatastatha doso'pi | guno'yam tani puranani sarvesam krte sulabhani jatani, atah purananam parasparaviruddhamsan samalocya samalocakanam cetasi mahan visvasah samutpannah, yadbharatiya samskrteritihasasya ca sampadane puranairvina nanya upaya iti, atastani samsuddhani sampurnani visvasarhani yathopalabhyeran tatha prayatnah kartavya iti | dosastvayam yesam samipe hastalikhitani purananyasan taih samupalabdhesu mudritesu suvacyesu tani sarvatha hastalikhitani purananyu- peksitani santi kitairbhaksitani kimva murkhestesam putrapautradibhirapane'lpena dravyena vikritaniti pratyaham samdrsyate | ato hastalikhita purana samgraho'pi yavatprayatnam yavacchakti yavadadravyasadhyam ca pramanikapuranasamsodhanartham pravrttasampadaka- samalocaka-samgrahakanam prathamyena kartavyakotimatikata ityalamatiprasaktavicaranena |