Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Maṅgalācaraṇa, Naimiṣāraṇya-Sabhā, Sūta-Āhvāna, and Narada Purāṇa-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

शौनक उवाच । आस्ते सिद्धाश्रमे पुण्ये सूतः पौराणिकोत्तमः । यजन्मखैर्बहुविधैर्विश्वरुपं जनार्दनम् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

śaunaka uvāca | āste siddhāśrame puṇye sūtaḥ paurāṇikottamaḥ | yajanmakhairbahuvidhairviśvarupaṃ janārdanam || 15 ||

Translation

Śaunaka said: In the holy Siddhāśrama dwells Sūta, foremost among the expounders of the Purāṇas, worshipping Janārdana—the Lord of the Universal Form—through many kinds of sacrificial rites.

Word by Word

• शौनकः: Śaunaka
• शौनकः: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• आस्ते: sits/abides
• आस्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• सिद्धाश्रमे: in the Siddha-āśrama
• सिद्धाश्रमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सिद्धानाम् आश्रमः)

• पुण्ये: holy
• पुण्ये: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifying सिद्धाश्रमे)

• सूतः: the Sūta (bard)
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पौराणिकोत्तमः: the best of Purāṇa-knowers
• पौराणिकोत्तमः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौराणिक + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः (उत्तमः पौराणिकः)

• यजन्: worshipping
• यजन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सूतः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मखैः: with sacrifices
• मखैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• बहुविधैः: of many kinds
• बहुविधैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारयः (बहवः विधाः येषाम्)

• विश्व-रूपम्: the universal-formed
• विश्व-रूपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः (विश्वं रूपं यस्य)

• जनार्दनम्: Janārdana (Viṣṇu)
• जनार्दनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Śaunaka

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka
• Sūta
• Siddhāśrama
• Janārdana (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

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

It establishes the sacred setting (Siddhāśrama) and presents Sūta as an authoritative Purāṇic transmitter whose life is anchored in worship of Viṣṇu (Janārdana), linking Purāṇic narration with lived ritual devotion.

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

Bhakti is shown as reverent worship directed to Janārdana, here expressed through yajña (sacrificial worship). The verse frames devotion not only as emotion but as sustained, disciplined offering to the Lord of the universe (Viśvarūpa).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The mention of “many kinds of sacrifices” points to ritual competence grounded in Kalpa (procedural rules for yajña) and supported by Śikṣā and Vyākaraṇa for correct recitation and formulation of mantras.