Shloka 14

देवकी-विवाहः, आकाशवाणी, भूरभारावतरण-याचना, क्षीराब्धि-स्तुति, केशावतार-नियोजनम्

Devanagari script

अग्निः सुवर्णस्य गुरुर् गवां सूर्यः परो गुरुः ममाप्य् अखिललोकानां गुरुर् नारायणो गुरुः

Transliteration

agniḥ suvarṇasya gurur gavāṃ sūryaḥ paro guruḥ mamāpy akhilalokānāṃ gurur nārāyaṇo guruḥ

Translation

অগ্নি স্বর্ণের গুরু, গোরুর জন্য সূর্য পরম গুরু; কিন্তু আমার এবং সকল লোকের জন্য নারায়ণই গুরু—সর্বোচ্চ আচার্য।

Word by Word

• अग्निः: Fire (Agni)
• अग्निः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• सुवर्णस्य: of gold
• सुवर्णस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• गुरुः: teacher/master
• गुरुः: Pradhana (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• सूर्यः: the Sun
• सूर्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परः: supreme
• परः: Pradhana (Predicate-qualifier/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गुरुः)

• गुरुः: teacher/master
• गुरुः: Pradhana (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

• मम: of me/my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• अखिल-लोकानाम्: of all worlds/of all people
• अखिल-लोकानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (अखिलाः लोकाः)

• गुरुः: teacher/master
• गुरुः: Pradhana (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गुरुः: teacher/master
• गुरुः: Pradhana (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Surya
• Narayana

FAQs

What is the significance of Narayana being called the Guru in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse elevates Nārāyaṇa from a worldly instructor to the ultimate source of all guidance, portraying Vishnu as the supreme governor of dharma and cosmic order for every realm.

How does Sage Parasara explain the hierarchy of guidance through this verse?

By giving familiar examples—Agni guiding gold and the Sun guiding cattle—Parāśara builds a graded analogy that culminates in Nārāyaṇa as the universal Teacher for all beings and worlds.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa) is presented as the Supreme Reality whose authority surpasses all limited guides, aligning with Vaishnava philosophy where the Lord is the final refuge and ultimate instructor.