Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78

Śuka’s Yoga-ascent, the Echo of ‘Bhoḥ’, and the Vaikuṇṭha Vision

Devanagari script

वेदतुल्यां भागवतीं हरिभक्तिविवर्द्धिनीम् । निवृत्तिनिरतं पुत्रं शुकमध्यापयञ्च ताम् ॥ ७८ ॥

Transliteration

vedatulyāṃ bhāgavatīṃ haribhaktivivarddhinīm | nivṛttinirataṃ putraṃ śukamadhyāpayañca tām || 78 ||

Translation

Er lehrte auch seinen Sohn Śuka, der der Entsagung hingegeben war, jene Bhāgavatī-Schrift—den Veden gleich und die Hingabe (Bhakti) zu Hari mehrend.

Word by Word

• veda-tulyām: equal to the Veda
• veda-tulyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda + tulya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वेदेन तुल्या), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative, Singular; विशेषणम् (of भागवतीम्/संहिताम्)

• bhāgavatīm: the Bhāgavatī (text)
• bhāgavatīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāgavatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• hari-bhakti-vivarddhinīm: that increases devotion to Hari
• hari-bhakti-vivarddhinīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hari + bhakti + vivarddhinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (हरेः भक्तिं विवर्धयति इति), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative, Singular; विशेषणम्

• nivṛtti-niratam: devoted to renunciation
• nivṛtti-niratam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nivṛtti + nirata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (निवृत्तौ निरतः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; विशेषणम् (of पुत्रम्/शुकम्)

• putram: son
• putram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• śukam: Śuka
• śukam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; पुत्रस्य विशेष-नाम

• adhyāpayan: taught (made study)
• adhyāpayan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-√i (धातु) [causative: अध्यापयति]
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular; causative sense ‘caused to study/taught’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• tām: that (text)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative, Singular; सर्वनाम (refers to भागवतीम्/संहिताम्)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara and the Kumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Shuka

FAQs

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

It declares the Bhāgavata/Bhāgavatī teaching as Veda-equivalent and emphasizes that it directly nurtures devotion to Hari, guiding even a renunciate temperament toward liberation.

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

Bhakti is presented as a Veda-level means of knowledge and transformation: study and transmission of the Bhāgavata teaching is said to “increase devotion to Hari,” making devotion itself a moksha-oriented discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights adhyayana/adhyāpana (systematic study and teaching) as the practical discipline—aligned with traditional Vedic pedagogy—applied here to Bhāgavata scripture for cultivating bhakti and nivṛtti.