Shloka 9

Pātāla-varṇana (Nārada’s Description of the Netherworld) / पातालवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

नारद: सर्वभूतानामन्तर्भूमिनिवासिनाम्‌ | जानंश्वकार व्याख्यान यन्तुः सर्वमशेषत:

Transliteration

nāradaḥ sarvabhūtānām antarbhūminivāsinām | jānan saḥ akāra vyākhyānaṁ yantuḥ sarvam aśeṣataḥ ||

Translation

Nārada knew all beings who dwell in the inner regions beneath the earth. Therefore, he began to explain in full detail to Mātali, Indra’s charioteer, everything that was to be seen there.

Word by Word

• नारदः: Narada
• नारदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वभूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्वभूतानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वभूत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• अन्तर्भूमि-निवासिनाम्: of those dwelling in the inner earth (nether regions)
• अन्तर्भूमि-निवासिनाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर्भूमिनिवासिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• जानन्: knowing
• जानन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्वः: tomorrow / on the morrow
• श्वः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्वस्/श्वः

• अकार: did / made
• अकार: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• व्याख्यानम्: explanation, detailed account
• व्याख्यानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याख्यान
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• यन्तुः: of the charioteer (driver)
• यन्तुः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यन्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अशेषतः: without remainder, completely
• अशेषतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अशेषतः

Speaker

कण्व उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Kaṇva
• Mātali
• Indra
• Antarbhūmi (subterranean regions)
• Pātāla-loka

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores that genuine knowledge carries a duty of guidance: a wise person who truly knows (like Nārada) should explain clearly and completely for the benefit of others, especially when navigating unknown or morally complex domains.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kaṇva narrates that Nārada, familiar with all beings in the subterranean realms, begins a thorough description to Mātali (Indra’s charioteer) about everything present in that nether region.