Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

Śuka’s Origin, Mastery of Śāstra, and Testing at Janaka’s Court

Devanagari script

नारद उवाच । अनूचानप्रसंगेन वेदांगान्यखिलानि च । श्रुतानि त्वन्मुखांभोजात्समासव्यासयोगतः ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

nārada uvāca | anūcānaprasaṃgena vedāṃgānyakhilāni ca | śrutāni tvanmukhāṃbhojātsamāsavyāsayogataḥ || 1 ||

Translation

Nārada said: In the course of disciplined study, I have heard from your lotus-mouth all the Vedāṅgas in their entirety—taught both in brief and in detailed exposition.

Word by Word

• नारदः: Narada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• अनूचान-प्रसङ्गेन: by the occasion/context of learned recitation
• अनूचान-प्रसङ्गेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनूचान (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (anūcānasya prasaṅgaḥ)

• वेदाङ्गानि: the Vedāṅgas (limbs of the Veda)
• वेदाङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (vedasya aṅgāni)

• अखिलानि: all, entire
• अखिलानि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying वेदाङ्गानि)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• श्रुतानि: heard
• श्रुतानि: Karma (कर्म/That which was heard)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रुत (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (heard)

• त्वत्-मुख-अम्भोजात्: from your lotus-like mouth
• त्वत्-मुख-अम्भोजात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्भोज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; (tvad-mukham iva ambhojam) इति रूपक-समासः, व्यवहारतः षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः; अर्थः ‘त्वन्मुखरूप-अम्भोज’

• समास-व्यासन-योगतः: by/through the method of summarizing and expanding
• समास-व्यासन-योगतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समास (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यासन/व्यास (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’, एकवचन-अव्यय; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (samāsa-vyāsa-yogaḥ)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the guru–śiṣya transmission of sacred knowledge: true Vedic learning is received through disciplined study and direct instruction, presented both concisely and in full detail.

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

While not explicitly naming bhakti, it models humility and reverence toward the teacher—an essential devotional attitude that supports Moksha Dharma by purifying the seeker and grounding practice in śāstra.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to mastery of the Vedāṅgas—especially tools like Vyākaraṇa (grammar), Jyotiṣa (Vedic astronomy/astrology), and Kalpa (ritual procedure)—taught through both summary and detailed explanation.