Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

अपृच्छत्पितरं तत्र कुतो वायुरभूदयम् । आख्यातुमर्हति भवान्सर्वं वायोर्विचेष्टितम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

apṛcchatpitaraṃ tatra kuto vāyurabhūdayam | ākhyātumarhati bhavānsarvaṃ vāyorviceṣṭitam || 8 ||

Translation

وهناك سأل أباه: «من أين نشأت هذه الريح؟ إنك جديرٌ بأن تبيّن كلَّ شيء، أي مجرى أفعال الريح كلّها.»

Word by Word

• अपृच्छत्: asked
• अपृच्छत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: प्रच्छ् (प्रश्ने)

• पितरम्: (his) father
• पितरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक adverb)

• कुतः: from where/why
• कुतः: Hetu-prashna (हेतु-प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (प्रश्नार्थक/अपादानार्थक ‘from where/why’)

• वायुः: wind
• वायुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• अभूत्: arose/occurred
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: भू (सत्तायाम्)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषणवत् वायुः इति

• आख्यातुम्: to explain/tell
• आख्यातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ख्या (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्यय; धातु: ख्या (कथने/प्रख्याने) उपसर्ग: आ

• अर्हति: is able/ought
• अर्हति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: अर्ह् (योग्यतायाम्)

• भवान्: you (honored)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; आदरार्थे ‘you (hon.)’

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• वायोः: of the wind
• वायोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• विचेष्टितम्: activity/behavior
• विचेष्टितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-चेष्टित (प्रातिपदिक; वि + चेष्टित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used as noun) from चेष्ट् (चेष्टायाम् ‘to act/move’) with उपसर्ग वि; ‘activity/behavior’

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing the questioner’s inquiry to his father (in the narrative frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vayu

FAQs

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

It highlights the mokṣa-oriented method of approaching truth: humble inquiry into the origin (kutaḥ) and function (viceṣṭita) of a cosmic principle like Vāyu, treating knowledge as something to be received from a qualified elder/teacher.

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

Indirectly, it models bhakti’s foundational attitude—reverent questioning and dependence on an authoritative guide—before deeper teachings can be received; such humility supports later devotion-centered understanding of the Lord’s governance over all forces like Vāyu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes disciplined inquiry and precise explanation (ākhyātum), aligning with the Vedāṅga spirit of clarity—especially Vyākaraṇa-style exactness in defining terms and functions—though no specific ritual or technical rule is stated in this line.