Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

Anadhyaya and the Winds: From Vedic Recitation Protocol to Sanatkumara’s Moksha-Upadesha

Devanagari script

तच्छुत्वा वचनं व्यासो नभोवाणीसमीरितम् । शुकेन सह पुत्रेण वेदाभ्यासमथाकरोत् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

tacchutvā vacanaṃ vyāso nabhovāṇīsamīritam | śukena saha putreṇa vedābhyāsamathākarot || 5 ||

Translation

فلما سمع فياسا تلك الكلمات التي نطقت بها نداءاتٌ من السماء، شرع في الانضباط على دراسة الفيدات وتلاوتها مع ابنه شوكا.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘that’ (ref. to speech)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: श्रु (श्रवणे) = ‘having heard’

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• नभोवाणीसमीरितम्: uttered by the heavenly voice
• नभोवाणीसमीरितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नभस्-वाणी-समीरित (प्रातिपदिक; नभस् + वाणी + समीरित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् वचनम् इति; समीरित = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) from सम्-ईर्/ईर् (प्रेरणे/उच्चारणे) ‘uttered’; समासः: नभसः वाणी (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तया समीरितम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष भाव)

• शुकेन: with Śuka
• शुकेन: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (सह/सम्बन्धार्थक)

• पुत्रेण: with (his) son
• पुत्रेण: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• वेदाभ्यासम्: practice/study of the Vedas
• वेदाभ्यासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद-अभ्यास (प्रातिपदिक; वेद + अभ्यास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वेदानाम् अभ्यासः

• अथ: then
• अथ: Anantarya (अनन्तर)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अनन्तर/आरम्भार्थक)

• अकरोत्: did/undertook
• अकरोत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: कृ (करणे)

Speaker

Narada (narrative frame; recounting the episode)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Shuka

FAQs

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

It highlights obedience to divine instruction and presents Veda-abhyāsa (disciplined Vedic study/recitation) as a purifying, dharma-aligned practice that supports the pursuit of mokṣa.

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

While not explicitly naming bhakti, it shows a core bhakti attitude—humble responsiveness to divine guidance—expressed through sacred practice (Vedic recitation) undertaken with sincerity and discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to veda-abhyāsa, which practically relies on Śikṣā (phonetics/intonation) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar) to preserve correct recitation and meaning during study.