Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

The Exposition of the Pratipadā Vrata for the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

नारद उवाच । पुराणसूत्रमखिलं श्रुतं तव मुखाद्विभो । मरीचये यथा प्रोक्तं ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

nārada uvāca | purāṇasūtramakhilaṃ śrutaṃ tava mukhādvibho | marīcaye yathā proktaṃ brahmaṇā parameṣṭhinā || 1 ||

Translation

Nārada sprach: O Ehrwürdiger, aus deinem eigenen Mund habe ich das gesamte purāṇische Sūtra vernommen, so wie es Parameṣṭhin Brahmā dem Marīci darlegte.

Word by Word

• nāradaḥ: Nārada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• purāṇa-sūtram: the purāṇa-summary/aphoristic outline
• purāṇa-sūtram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + sūtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पुराणस्य सूत्रम्)

• akhilam: entire
• akhilam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (पुराणसूत्रम्)

• śrutam: heard
• śrutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु) + ta (क्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त—भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘श्रुत’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः (heard)

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (युष्मद्/त्वद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• mukhāt: from (your) mouth
• mukhāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• vibho: O Lord/Mighty one
• vibho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• marīcaye: to Marīci
• marīcaye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: marīci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (as/just as)

• proktam: was spoken
• proktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vac (वच् धातु) + ta (क्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त—भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘प्रोक्त’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• brahmaṇā: by Brahmā
• brahmaṇā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• parameṣṭhinā: by the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin)
• parameṣṭhinā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameṣṭhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; ब्रह्मणः विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Brahma
• Marici

FAQs

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

It establishes the authority of the teaching through guru-paramparā: the Purāṇic synopsis is preserved as a faithful transmission from Brahmā to Marīci and onward, making the instruction reliable and dharma-grounded.

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

Indirectly, it frames bhakti and all Purāṇic teachings as received through reverent listening (śravaṇa) from an authentic source—one of the core devotional practices emphasized across Purāṇic tradition.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights the method of learning—śravaṇa and precise oral transmission—supporting Vedāṅga concerns like correct recitation and preservation of authoritative teachings (closely aligned with Śikṣā and Vyākaraṇa in practice).