Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13
Anūcāna (True Learning), the Vedāṅgas, and Śikṣā: Svara, Sāmavedic Chant, and Gandharva Theory
नारद उवाच । अंगानां लक्षणं ब्रूहि वेदानां चापि विस्तरात् । त्वंमस्मासु महाविज्ञः सांगेष्वेतेषु मानद ॥ १३ ॥
nārada uvāca | aṃgānāṃ lakṣaṇaṃ brūhi vedānāṃ cāpi vistarāt | tvaṃmasmāsu mahāvijñaḥ sāṃgeṣveteṣu mānada || 13 ||
Nārada dit : «Expose-moi en détail les marques distinctives des Vedāṅga, les membres auxiliaires du Veda, et aussi celles des Veda eux-mêmes. Car, parmi nous, tu es le grand connaisseur de ces membres du Veda, ô dispensateur d’honneur.»
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It frames sacred learning as a disciplined path: Nārada seeks precise knowledge of the Vedas and their Vedāṅgas, implying that right understanding of scripture supports dharma and ultimately mokṣa.
While not directly teaching bhakti practices, it shows the bhakta-sage Nārada approaching a higher authority with humility and inquiry—an attitude that complements Vishnu-bhakti by grounding devotion in correct scriptural comprehension.
The verse points to the Vedāṅgas as essential tools for using the Veda correctly—such as Śikṣā (phonetics), Vyākaraṇa (grammar), Chandas (meter), Nirukta (etymology), Kalpa (ritual procedure), and Jyotiṣa (Vedic astronomy/astrology for timing).