Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Maṅgalācaraṇa, Naimiṣāraṇya-Sabhā, Sūta-Āhvāna, and Narada Purāṇa-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

ज्ञानार्णवो वै सूतस्तत्सर्वतत्त्वार्थकोविदः । तस्मात्तमेव पृच्छाम इत्यूचे शौनको मुनीन् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

jñānārṇavo vai sūtastatsarvatattvārthakovidaḥ | tasmāttameva pṛcchāma ityūce śaunako munīn || 22 ||

Translation

Sūta ist wahrlich ein Ozean des Wissens, kundig im Sinn und Gehalt aller Tattvas. Darum lasst uns ihn allein befragen — so sprach Śaunaka zu den Weisen.

Word by Word

• ज्ञान-अर्णवः: ocean of knowledge
• ज्ञान-अर्णवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान-अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘ज्ञानरूपः अर्णवः’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारण/प्रसिद्ध्यर्थ (emphasis)

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘सूतः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सर्व-तत्त्व-अर्थ-कोविदः: skilled in the meaning of all principles
• सर्व-तत्त्व-अर्थ-कोविदः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + तत्त्व + अर्थ + कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां तत्त्वानाम् अर्थे कोविदः)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इति अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; हेत्वर्थ/तस्मादर्थे (therefore/from that reason)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• पृच्छामः: we ask
• पृच्छामः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्य-समाप्ति सूचक (quotative particle)

• ऊचे: said
• ऊचे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद-रूप (ऊचे)

• शौनकः: Śaunaka
• शौनकः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent of ‘ऊचे’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मुनीन्: to the sages
• मुनीन्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

Speaker

Shaunaka

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Shaunaka
• Munis (sages)

FAQs

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

It establishes the principle of approaching a qualified teacher: the sages choose Sūta because he is described as a “jñānārṇava,” capable of conveying tattva (true principles) with correct meaning and intent.

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

Bhakti is traditionally received through hearing (śravaṇa) from an authoritative speaker; this verse sets the narrative foundation for that process by selecting Sūta as the reliable source for sacred instruction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes interpretive competence—knowing ‘tattva’ and ‘artha’—which aligns with Vedāṅga concerns like Vyākaraṇa (clarity of language) and Nirukta (meaning), ensuring scripture is understood correctly.