Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 65

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

Devanagari script

शौचाचारस्थितः सम्यग्विद्याभ्यासी गुरुप्रियः । नित्यव्रती सत्यपरः स वै ब्राह्मण उच्यते ॥ ६५ ॥

Transliteration

śaucācārasthitaḥ samyagvidyābhyāsī gurupriyaḥ | nityavratī satyaparaḥ sa vai brāhmaṇa ucyate || 65 ||

Translation

Wer fest in Reinheit und rechter Lebensführung steht, eifrig das heilige Wissen übt, dem Guru lieb ist, regelmäßig Gelübde hält und der Wahrheit hingegeben bleibt—der wird wahrhaft Brāhmaṇa genannt.

Word by Word

• शौचाचारस्थितः: one established in purity and right conduct
• शौचाचारस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शौच + आचार + स्थित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—शौच-आचारयोः स्थितः (locative/adhikaraṇa-tatpuruṣa sense)

• सम्यक्: properly, rightly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• विद्याभ्यासी: a practitioner/student of learning
• विद्याभ्यासी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्या + अभ्यासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—विद्यायाः अभ्यासिन् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• गुरुप्रियः: dear to the teacher
• गुरुप्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—गुरोः प्रियः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• नित्यव्रती: one of constant vows
• नित्यव्रती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य + व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—नित्यः व्रती (one whose vows are constant)

• सत्यपरः: devoted to truth
• सत्यपरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—सत्ये परः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष; devoted to truth)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada in the Moksha-dharma dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Guru

FAQs

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

It defines brāhmaṇatva as a lived spiritual qualification—purity, disciplined conduct, study, guru-alignment, steady vows, and truthfulness—rather than merely birth or external identity.

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

By stressing guru-priyatā (pleasing the guru), nitya-vrata (regular sacred discipline), and satya (truth), it lays the ethical and devotional foundation through which bhakti becomes stable and transformative.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes vidyā-abhyāsa—consistent study and practice of śāstra, which traditionally includes Vedāṅga-supported learning (especially Vyākaraṇa for correct understanding and Śikṣā for proper recitation).