Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

अधरावभृथस्नातं सूतं पौराणिकोत्तमम् । पप्रच्छुस्ते सुखासीनां नैमिषारण्यवासिनः ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

adharāvabhṛthasnātaṃ sūtaṃ paurāṇikottamam | papracchuste sukhāsīnāṃ naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ || 28 ||

Translation

After Sūta—the foremost among Purāṇic narrators—had bathed following the concluding (avabhṛtha) rite, the residents of Naimiṣāraṇya, while he sat comfortably at ease, questioned him.

Word by Word

• अधरा-अवभृथ-स्नातम्: bathed in the later Avabhṛtha
• अधरा-अवभृथ-स्नातम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधरा (प्रातिपदिक) + अवभृथ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नात (कृदन्त; √स्ना धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) "स्नात"; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अधरे अवभृथे स्नातः)

• सूतम्: the Sūta
• सूतम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• पौराणिक-उत्तमम्: the best of Purāṇa-knowers
• पौराणिक-उत्तमम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौराणिक (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयसमास (उत्तमः पौराणिकः) विशेषणम् (सूतम्)

• पप्रच्छुः: they asked
• पप्रच्छुः: क्रिया (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• सुख-आसीनान्: those seated comfortably
• सुख-आसीनान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + आसीन (कृदन्त; √आस् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) "आसीन"; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सुखेन आसीनाः) विशेषणम् (नैमिषारण्यवासिनः)

• नैमिष-अरण्य-वासिनः: the dwellers of Naimiṣa forest
• नैमिष-अरण्य-वासिनः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैमिष (प्रातिपदिक) + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (नैमिषे अरण्ये वसन्ति ये)

Speaker

Narrator (textual voice) introducing the sages’ inquiry to Suta

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Naimisharanya

FAQs

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

It establishes the sacred teaching setting: purified by ritual (avabhṛtha-snāna) and grounded in satsanga, the sages approach an authoritative Purāṇic transmitter (Sūta) for dharmic and spiritual instruction.

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

Bhakti begins with śravaṇa (reverent listening). The verse frames devotion as receiving sacred narratives from a qualified speaker in a sanctified place like Naimiṣāraṇya.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice is implied through the term avabhṛtha-snātam—knowledge of yajña completion rites and purification observances, aligning with kalpa (ritual procedure) and dharma-śāstric discipline.