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Shloka 38

Dhruva’s Humiliation, Sunīti’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Bhakti-Yoga Instruction

नूनं भवान्भगवतो योऽङ्गज: परमेष्ठिन: । वितुदन्नटते वीणां हिताय जगतोऽर्कवत् ॥ ३८ ॥

nūnaṁ bhavān bhagavato yo ’ṅgajaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ vitudann aṭate vīṇāṁ hitāya jagato ’rkavat

Surely you are a worthy son of Lord Brahmā, the Parameṣṭhī. You wander, plucking the vīṇā for the welfare of the whole universe, like the sun that moves for the good of all beings.

नूनम्certainly
नूनम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनूनम् (अव्यय)
Formनिश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (certainly)
भवान्you
भवान्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootभवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; आदरार्थक-प्रयोग (honorific ‘you’)
भगवतःof the Lord
भगवतः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootभगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन
यःwho
यः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)
अङ्गजःson
अङ्गजः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअङ्गज (प्रातिपदिक; अङ्ग + ज)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: अङ्गात् जातः (son)
परमेष्ठिनःof Brahmā (Parameṣṭhin)
परमेष्ठिनः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootपरमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन
वितुदन्plucking/striking
वितुदन्:
Kriya (क्रिया/सहक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवि-√तुद् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
Formवर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभावे
अटतेwanders
अटते:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√अट् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
वीणाम्the vīṇā
वीणाम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootवीणा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन
हितायfor the benefit
हिताय:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootहित (प्रातिपदिक; √धा क्त with hi- prefix sense ‘beneficial’)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन
जगतःof the world
जगतः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootजगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन
अर्कवत्like the sun
अर्कवत्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअर्कवत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्-प्रत्यय)
Formउपमानार्थक-अव्यय (वत्-प्रत्यय; like the sun)

Dhruva Mahārāja, although a young child, expressed his hope that he might be offered the benediction of a kingdom which would exceed in opulence those of his father and grandfather. He also expressed his gladness that he had met such an exalted person as Nārada, whose only concern was to illuminate the world, like the sun, which rotates all over the universe only for the purpose of benefiting the inhabitants of all planets. Nārada Muni travels all over the universe for the sole purpose of performing the best welfare activity for the entire universe by teaching everyone how to become a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus Dhruva Mahārāja felt fully assured that Nārada Muni could fulfill his desire, even though the desire was very extraordinary.

N
Narada Muni
B
Brahma (Parameshthi)

FAQs

This verse compares the sage’s wanderings and instruction to the sun—saintly devotees travel and uplift others naturally, bringing welfare through spiritual guidance.

Dhruva recognizes Narada as a divine, authoritative sage in the disciplic line from Brahmā, therefore fit to guide him on the path of devotion.

Seek guidance from genuine spiritual teachers and value their counsel; like sunlight, sincere devotional instruction can illuminate one’s life and benefit others too.