Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Anukramaṇī (Synoptic Table of Contents) of the Śrī Bṛhannāradīya Purāṇa

Devanagari script

वेदांगानां च कथनं शुकोत्पत्तिश्च विस्तरात् । सनंदनेन गदिता नारदाय महात्मने ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

vedāṃgānāṃ ca kathanaṃ śukotpattiśca vistarāt | sanaṃdanena gaditā nāradāya mahātmane || 4 ||

Translation

Hier werden auch die Vedāṅgas beschrieben und ausführlich die Geschichte von Śukas Ursprung — vorgetragen von Sanandana dem großherzigen Nārada.

Word by Word

• veda-aṅgānām: of the Vedāṅgas
• veda-aṅgānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (veda-aṅga = ‘limb of the Veda’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• kathanam: the narration/description
• kathanam: Karma (कर्म) / Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kathana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śuka-utpattiḥ: the birth/origin of Śuka
• śuka-utpattiḥ: Karma (कर्म) / Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuka (प्रातिपदिक) + utpatti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• vistarāt: in detail
• vistarāt: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vistara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb); ‘in detail/at length’

• sanaṃdanena: by Sanandana
• sanaṃdanena: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• gaditā: was spoken/told
• gaditā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gad (गद् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (वाक्ये) ‘(कथा) गदिता’ = ‘was spoken’

• nāradāya: to Nārada
• nāradāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• mahātmane: to the great-souled (one)
• mahātmane: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘nāradāya’

Speaker

Suta (narratorial summary indicating Sanandana’s discourse to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sanandana
• Narada
• Shuka

FAQs

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

It functions as an anukramaṇikā (topic-index) verse, pointing to two pillars of sacred learning: the auxiliary sciences that preserve Vedic transmission (Vedāṅgas) and the exemplary saintly lineage of Śuka, conveyed through the guru–disciple dialogue of Sanandana and Nārada.

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

Though not a direct bhakti injunction, it frames the tradition: devotion is supported by right knowledge and right transmission—Sanandana instructs Nārada, and the mention of Śuka signals the ideal of purity and realization that bhakti and jñāna aim toward in Purāṇic teaching.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse signals an upcoming detailed treatment of Vedāṅgas—practical disciplines such as Śikṣā (phonetics), Vyākaraṇa (grammar), Chandas (meter), Nirukta (etymology), Jyotiṣa (Vedic astronomy/astrology), and Kalpa (ritual procedure) that enable accurate study and application of Vedic rites and recitation.