Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Viṣṇor Māhātmya

Devanagari script

आसीत्पुरा कृतयुगे ब्रह्मन्स्वारोचिषेऽन्तरे । रैवतो नाम विप्रेन्द्रो वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

āsītpurā kṛtayuge brahmansvārociṣe'ntare | raivato nāma viprendro vedavedāṅgapāragaḥ || 24 ||

Translation

হে ব্রাহ্মণ! প্রাচীন কালে— কৃতযুগে, স্বারোচিষ মন্বন্তরে— রৈবত নামে এক শ্রেষ্ঠ ব্রাহ্মণ ছিলেন, যিনি বেদ ও বেদাঙ্গে পারদর্শী ছিলেন।

Word by Word

• आसीत्: there was
• आसीत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; time adverb (कालवाचक)

• कृत-युगे: in the Kṛta Yuga
• कृत-युगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative ‘in the Kṛta age’

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; vocative ‘O Brahmin’

• स्वारोचिषे: in (the time of) Svarociṣa
• स्वारोचिषे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वारोचिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative (in Svarociṣa [Manvantara])

• अन्तरे: during/within
• अन्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative ‘within/during’

• रैवतः: Raivata
• रैवतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Proper name

• नाम: named
• नाम: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-प्रयोग (indeclinable used to indicate name)

• विप्र-इन्द्रः: chief of brahmins
• विप्र-इन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘lord among brahmins’

• वेद-वेदाङ्ग-पारगः: versed in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas
• वेद-वेदाङ्ग-पारगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one who has gone to the far shore of Vedas and Vedāṅgas’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Raivata
• Svārociṣa (Manvantara)
• Kṛta Yuga
• Vedas
• Vedāṅgas

FAQs

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

It establishes scriptural authority by introducing Raivata as a perfected Vedic scholar (veda-vedāṅga-pāraga), signaling that the teaching/story that follows rests on orthodox Vedic knowledge and dharmic credibility.

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

This verse does not directly teach bhakti; it sets the stage by presenting an ideal qualified Brahmin whose Vedic and Vedāṅga mastery supports later dharma and devotion-oriented instructions in the chapter’s narrative flow.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights comprehensive Vedāṅga proficiency—traditionally Śikṣā (phonetics), Vyākaraṇa (grammar), Chandas (meter), Nirukta (etymology), Jyotiṣa (Vedic astronomy/astrology), and Kalpa (ritual procedure)—as the practical foundation for correct recitation, interpretation, and performance of Vedic rites.