Shloka 12

Nārada’s Darśana of Viśvarūpa Nārāyaṇa and the Caturmūrti Doctrine (नारदस्य नारायणदर्शनं चतुर्मूर्तिविचारश्च)

Devanagari script

राजा जनकके द्वारा शुकदेवजीका पूजन सो हं पितुर्नियोगात्‌ त्वामुपप्रष्टमिहागत: । तन्मे धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ यथावद्‌ वक्तुमहसि,धर्मात्माओंमें श्रेष्ठ नरेश! पिताकी इस आज्ञासे ही मैं यहाँ आपके पास कुछ पूछनेके लिये आया हूँ। आप मेरे प्रश्नोंका यथावत्‌ उत्तर दें

Transliteration

so ’haṃ pitur niyogāt tvām upapraṣṭum ihāgataḥ | tan me dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭha yathāvad vaktum arhasi ||

Translation

Darum bin ich, dem Gebot meines Vaters folgend, hierher gekommen, um dich zu befragen. O Bester unter den Wahrern des Dharma, du sollst meine Fragen richtig und in gebührender Reihenfolge beantworten, damit die Wahrheit rechten Handelns klar erkannt werde.

Word by Word

• {'saḥ (so ’ham)': 'therefore

• ‘I (indeed)’ (emphatic self-reference)', 'pituḥ': 'of (my) father', 'niyogāt': 'from the command/commission

• by injunction', 'tvām': 'you (accusative singular)', 'upapraṣṭum': 'to ask, to inquire properly

• to question with intent to learn', 'iha': 'here', 'āgataḥ': 'has come

• arrived', 'tat': 'therefore/that

• in that case', 'me': 'to me

• my', 'dharmabhṛtām': 'of those who uphold/bear dharma (righteous order)', 'śreṣṭha': 'O best, foremost', 'yathāvat': 'properly, correctly, in accordance with rule and truth', 'vaktum': 'to speak

• to explain', 'arhasi': 'you are worthy/ought (to do so)'}

Speaker

शुक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śuka (Śukadeva)
• Janaka
• Śuka’s father (Vyāsa, implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined inquiry and ethical instruction: a seeker approaches a recognized upholder of dharma under a legitimate commission (the father’s injunction) and requests a correct, orderly explanation—implying that dharma should be learned through proper questioning and authoritative, truthful response.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śuka addresses King Janaka, stating that he has come on his father’s command to ask questions. He requests Janaka—praised as foremost among the righteous—to answer those questions accurately, setting up a didactic exchange on dharma and right conduct.