Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

The Recitation of the Thousand Names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa (Yugala-Sahasranāma) and Śaraṇāgati-Dharma

Devanagari script

सताः शिक्षेत वै धर्मांन्प्रपन्नानां भयापहान् । ऐहिकामुष्मिकीचिंताविधुरान् सिद्धिदायकान् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

satāḥ śikṣeta vai dharmāṃnprapannānāṃ bhayāpahān | aihikāmuṣmikīciṃtāvidhurān siddhidāyakān || 17 ||

Translation

One should indeed learn from the virtuous the dharmas meant for those who have taken refuge—dharmas that remove fear, free one from anxiety about this world and the next, and bestow true accomplishment (siddhi).

Word by Word

• सताम्: of the good (saints)
• सताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शिक्षेत: should learn
• शिक्षेत: क्रिया (Injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शिक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; विध्यर्थ (should learn/should be taught)

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/निश्चयार्थ (emphasis/indeed)

• धर्मान्: duties, dharmas
• धर्मान्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रपन्नानाम्: of those who have surrendered
• प्रपन्नानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रपन्न (कृदन्त; प्र-√पद्/पद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural); भूतकृत्/कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक

• भय-अपहान्: removing fear
• भय-अपहान्: विशेषण (Qualifier of धर्मान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + अपह (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; अप-√हृ/अप-हन् अर्थे)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (भयस्य अपहाः = fear-removing)

• ऐहिक-अमुष्मिक-चिन्ता-विधुरान्: free from anxiety about this world and the next
• ऐहिक-अमुष्मिक-चिन्ता-विधुरान्: विशेषण (Qualifier of धर्मान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐहिक (प्रातिपदिक) + अमुष्मिक (प्रातिपदिक) + चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + विधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (ऐहिकामुष्मिक्याः चिन्तायाः विधुराः = free from worldly-and-otherworldly anxieties)

• सिद्धि-दायकान्: granting success/accomplishment
• सिद्धि-दायकान्: विशेषण (Qualifier of धर्मान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + दायक (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; दा-धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (सिद्धिं ददाति इति)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Vedanga/Dharma-instruction context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that authentic dharma is best learned from the sat (the truly virtuous), and that such dharma is characterized by fearlessness, inner freedom from worldly/otherworldly anxieties, and the arising of siddhi as a natural spiritual fruition.

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

By highlighting prapatti (taking refuge), it aligns with bhakti’s core posture of surrender; when one follows dharma taught by realized and virtuous guides, fear diminishes and the heart becomes steady—conditions that support single-pointed devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse implicitly points to Śikṣā (discipline/training in correct learning): one should receive instruction properly from qualified, virtuous teachers so that practice is effective and yields steadiness rather than anxiety.