Shloka 21

Nārada’s Darśana of Viśvarūpa Nārāyaṇa and the Caturmūrti Doctrine (नारदस्य नारायणदर्शनं चतुर्मूर्तिविचारश्च)

Devanagari script

एतद्‌ भवन्तं पृच्छामि तद्‌ भवान्‌ वक्तुम्हति । यथा वेदार्थततच्त्वेन ब्रूहि मे त्वं जनाधिप,नरेश्वर! मैं यही बात आपसे पूछता हूँ। आप मुझे यह बतानेकी कृपा करें। वेदके वास्तविक सिद्धान्तके अनुसार क्या करना उचित है? यह आप मुझे बताइये

Transliteration

etad bhavantaṁ pṛcchāmi tad bhavān vaktum arhati | yathā vedārtha-tattvena brūhi me tvaṁ janādhipa, nareśvara ||

Translation

I ask you this, O revered one; you are fit to answer it. O lord of the people, O king of men, tell me—according to the true purport and principle of the Veda—what ought rightly to be done.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'etad', 'gloss': 'this (matter), this question'}, {'term': 'bhavantam / bhavān', 'gloss': 'you (honorific), revered sir'}, {'term': 'pṛcchāmi', 'gloss': 'I ask, I inquire'}, {'term': 'vaktum arhati', 'gloss': 'is worthy/fit to speak

• ought to explain'}, {'term': 'yathā', 'gloss': 'as, in the manner that

• according to'}, {'term': 'veda', 'gloss': 'the Veda

• sacred revelation/authoritative scripture'}, {'term': 'artha', 'gloss': 'meaning, purport'}, {'term': 'tattvena', 'gloss': 'in truth

• according to the real principle/essence'}, {'term': 'brūhi', 'gloss': 'tell (me), speak'}, {'term': 'me', 'gloss': 'to me'}, {'term': 'janādhipa', 'gloss': 'lord of people

• ruler, king'}, {'term': 'nareśvara', 'gloss': 'lord of men

Speaker

शुक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śuka
• janādhipa (a king/ruler addressed)
• nareśvara (a king/ruler addressed)
• Veda

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames dharma as something to be determined by the Veda’s true purport (vedārtha-tattva), not merely by surface readings or personal preference; it emphasizes humble inquiry and authoritative instruction in deciding what is proper to do.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śuka, as the speaker, respectfully questions a ruler addressed as janādhipa/nareśvara, requesting a clear explanation of the correct course of action grounded in the authentic meaning of the Veda.