Shloka 16

The Dialogue between Rukmāṅgada and Dharmāṅgada

Devanagari script

वचोभिस्तु पुराणोक्तैर्वासरैर्बहुभिस्त्वहम् । संबोधयित्वा बहुशः प्रजानां सुखहेतवे ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

vacobhistu purāṇoktairvāsarairbahubhistvaham | saṃbodhayitvā bahuśaḥ prajānāṃ sukhahetave || 16 ||

Translation

Doch ich, über viele Tage hinweg, habe mit den in den Purāṇas gesprochenen Worten das Volk immer wieder ermahnt und unterwiesen—damit ihr Wohlergehen und ihr Glück erwachsen.

Word by Word

• vacobhiḥ: with words
• vacobhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात): contrast/emphasis

• purāṇa-uktaiḥ: spoken in the Purāṇas
• purāṇa-uktaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; tatpuruṣa: 'said in the Purāṇa' qualifying 'vacobhiḥ'

• vāsaraiḥ: by days / over days
• vāsaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• bahubhiḥ: many
• bahubhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; qualifying 'vāsaraiḥ'

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात): emphasis

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• saṃbodhayitvā: having instructed / having awakened
• saṃbodhayitvā: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√budh (धातु) (causative √bodh) → saṃbodhayitvā (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ktvā)

• bahuśaḥ: repeatedly
• bahuśaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahuśaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकार/आवृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय): 'many times'

• prajānām: of the people
• prajānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• sukha-hetave: for (their) happiness / for the cause of happiness
• sukha-hetave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'cause of happiness' (purpose)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Purana

FAQs

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

It presents Purāṇic instruction as compassionate lokahita (public good): repeated teaching over time is portrayed as a means to awaken people toward dharma and lasting well-being.

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

By emphasizing teaching through Purāṇic speech, it points to śravaṇa and upadeśa (hearing and guidance) as practical supports for bhakti—devotion grows when people repeatedly hear Purāṇic narratives and values.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights disciplined instruction through authoritative speech—aligned with Vyākaraṇa (clarity of expression) and Śikṣā (proper recitation/communication), even though no single Vedāṅga is named explicitly.