Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release

Devanagari script

अध्यापकश्च वेदानां वेदार्थयुतिबोधकः । शास्त्रवक्ता धर्मवक्ता नीतिशास्त्रोपदेशकः ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

adhyāpakaśca vedānāṃ vedārthayutibodhakaḥ | śāstravaktā dharmavaktā nītiśāstropadeśakaḥ || 86 ||

Translation

He is a teacher of the Vedas, who makes the Vedas’ meaning understood through sound reasoning; a proclaimer of the śāstras, a speaker on dharma, and an instructor in nīti-śāstra, the science of polity and ethics.

Word by Word

• अध्यापकः: teacher/instructor
• अध्यापकः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate noun; guru-definition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्यापक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• वेदानाम्: of the Vedas
• वेदानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वेद-अर्थ-युक्ति-बोधकः: explainer of the reasoning of Vedic meaning
• वेद-अर्थ-युक्ति-बोधकः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + बोधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (determinative): ‘वेदानाम् अर्थस्य युक्तेः बोधकः’

• शास्त्र-वक्ता: expounder of scriptures
• शास्त्र-वक्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘शास्त्रस्य वक्ता’

• धर्म-वक्ता: speaker of dharma
• धर्म-वक्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘धर्मस्य वक्ता’

• नीति-शास्त्र-उपदेशकः: instructor in polity/ethics treatise
• नीति-शास्त्र-उपदेशकः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीति (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उपदेशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः: ‘नीतिशास्त्रस्य उपदेशकः’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vedas
• Dharma
• Shastra
• Niti

FAQs

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

It presents the ideal sacred teacher: one who not only recites the Vedas but also clarifies their meaning with yukti (disciplined reasoning), thereby making dharma intelligible and livable.

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

By emphasizing correct understanding of śāstra and dharma, it supports bhakti as informed devotion—guided by scriptural meaning and right conduct rather than mere emotion or ritualism.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse stresses interpretive competence—using yukti to explain vedārtha—which aligns with Vedāṅga-based study methods (especially Vyākaraṇa and Mīmāṃsā-style reasoning used to derive precise meaning).