Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

Śuka’s Origin, Mastery of Śāstra, and Testing at Janaka’s Court

Devanagari script

संलापालापकुशाला भावज्ञाः सर्वकोविदाः । परं पंचाशतस्तस्य पाद्यादीनि व्यकल्पयन् ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

saṃlāpālāpakuśālā bhāvajñāḥ sarvakovidāḥ | paraṃ paṃcāśatastasya pādyādīni vyakalpayan || 64 ||

Translation

Gewandt in feiner Unterhaltung und beredter Rede, kundig des bhāva — der inneren Gesinnung und Empfindung — und in jeder Kunst bewandert, bereiteten sie ihm mehr als fünfzig Arten der Bewirtung, beginnend mit pādya, dem Wasser zum Waschen der Füße, und weiteren Ehren der Gastfreundschaft.

Word by Word

• संलाप-आलाप-कुशालाः: skilled in conversation
• संलाप-आलाप-कुशालाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संलाप (प्रातिपदिक) + आलाप (प्रातिपदिक) + कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग (context: स्त्रियः), प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः—संलापे आलापे च कुशलाः (skilled in conversation and talk)

• भाव-ज्ञाः: knowing (his) feelings
• भाव-ज्ञाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (√ज्ञा धातु, क)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—भावं जानन्ति (knowers of feelings/intent)

• सर्व-कोविदाः: expert in all (arts)
• सर्व-कोविदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—सर्वेषु कोविदाः (skilled in everything)

• परम्: exceedingly
• परम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगे अव्ययवत् (adverbial accusative) = ‘exceedingly/indeed’

• पञ्चाशतः: fifty (of them)
• पञ्चाशतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चाशत् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (पञ्चाशत्), प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; संख्याशब्दः—‘fifty (women)’ (collective)

• तस्य: for him/of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• पाद्य-आदीनि: pādya etc. (hospitality items)
• पाद्य-आदीनि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; समासः—पाद्यं आदिः येषाम् (pādya and the like: water for feet etc.)

• व्यकल्पयन्: they arranged/provided
• व्यकल्पयन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः ‘वि’ (to arrange/provide)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the episode within the Moksha-dharma section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It elevates atithi-satkāra (honoring a guest) into a dharmic and spiritually purifying act: refined speech, correct understanding of intent, and careful ritual hospitality become expressions of inner discipline.

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

By highlighting attentive service—offering pādya and related upacāras with sensitivity to bhāva—it shows bhakti as practical reverence expressed through respectful, heartfelt service rather than mere formality.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (kalpa-style discipline) is implied: the ordered preparation of upacāras such as pādya and others reflects procedural correctness and ceremonial know-how used in pūjā and guest reception.