Shloka 23
Puruṣottama-māhātmya
The Greatness of Puruṣottama Kṣetra
वरुणो यादसां यद्वद्यमः संयमिनां यथा । क्षीरोदः सागराणां च देवर्षिणां च नारदः ॥ २३ ॥
varuṇo yādasāṃ yadvadyamaḥ saṃyamināṃ yathā | kṣīrodaḥ sāgarāṇāṃ ca devarṣiṇāṃ ca nāradaḥ || 23 ||
Así como Varuṇa es el primero entre los seres acuáticos, y Yama entre los que hacen guardar la disciplina, y el Océano de Leche entre los mares, así también Nārada es el primero entre los devarṣi, los sabios celestiales.
Narada (narrative attribution within Uttara-Bhaga; verse praising Narada’s pre-eminence among devarṣis)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)
Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)
FAQs
It establishes a hierarchy of exemplars—each being “best-in-class” in its domain—to underscore Nārada’s spiritual authority among the devarṣis, encouraging trust in the teachings and sacred accounts he transmits.
By highlighting Nārada as foremost among divine seers, it implicitly points devotees toward bhakti taught through Nārada’s guidance—devotion grounded in faithful hearing (śravaṇa) and transmission of the Lord’s glories.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is the dharmic principle of recognizing qualified authority (pramāṇa) and reliable teachers in scriptural learning.