Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

Anadhyaya and the Winds: From Vedic Recitation Protocol to Sanatkumara’s Moksha-Upadesha

Devanagari script

तच्छुत्वा वचनं व्यासो नभोवाणीसमीरितम् । शुकेन सह पुत्रेण वेदाभ्यासमथाकरोत् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

tacchutvā vacanaṃ vyāso nabhovāṇīsamīritam | śukena saha putreṇa vedābhyāsamathākarot || 5 ||

Translation

Als Vyāsa jene Worte vernahm, die von einer Stimme aus dem Himmel gesprochen wurden, begann er daraufhin zusammen mit seinem Sohn Śuka das disziplinierte Studium und die Rezitation der Veden.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘that’ (ref. to speech)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: श्रु (श्रवणे) = ‘having heard’

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• नभोवाणीसमीरितम्: uttered by the heavenly voice
• नभोवाणीसमीरितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नभस्-वाणी-समीरित (प्रातिपदिक; नभस् + वाणी + समीरित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् वचनम् इति; समीरित = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) from सम्-ईर्/ईर् (प्रेरणे/उच्चारणे) ‘uttered’; समासः: नभसः वाणी (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तया समीरितम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष भाव)

• शुकेन: with Śuka
• शुकेन: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (सह/सम्बन्धार्थक)

• पुत्रेण: with (his) son
• पुत्रेण: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• वेदाभ्यासम्: practice/study of the Vedas
• वेदाभ्यासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद-अभ्यास (प्रातिपदिक; वेद + अभ्यास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वेदानाम् अभ्यासः

• अथ: then
• अथ: Anantarya (अनन्तर)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अनन्तर/आरम्भार्थक)

• अकरोत्: did/undertook
• अकरोत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: कृ (करणे)

Speaker

Narada (narrative frame; recounting the episode)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Shuka

FAQs

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

It highlights obedience to divine instruction and presents Veda-abhyāsa (disciplined Vedic study/recitation) as a purifying, dharma-aligned practice that supports the pursuit of mokṣa.

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

While not explicitly naming bhakti, it shows a core bhakti attitude—humble responsiveness to divine guidance—expressed through sacred practice (Vedic recitation) undertaken with sincerity and discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to veda-abhyāsa, which practically relies on Śikṣā (phonetics/intonation) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar) to preserve correct recitation and meaning during study.