Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38
Śuka’s Origin, Mastery of Śāstra, and Testing at Janaka’s Court
उपतस्थुर्मुनिश्रेष्टं यथास्य पितरं तथा । बृहस्पतिं स वव्रे च वेदवेदांगभाष्यवित् ॥ ३८ ॥
upatasthurmuniśreṣṭaṃ yathāsya pitaraṃ tathā | bṛhaspatiṃ sa vavre ca vedavedāṃgabhāṣyavit || 38 ||
Ils servirent ce plus éminent des sages comme ils serviraient leur propre père. Et lui, connaisseur des enseignements commentés du Veda et des Vedāṅga, choisit Bṛhaspati pour précepteur.
Narada (narrating within the Moksha-dharma discourse)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It emphasizes guru-sevā and reverence: serving a realized sage like one’s own father, and grounding spiritual life in an authentic teacher who knows the Veda and Vedāṅgas.
Though not explicitly naming bhakti, it establishes the bhakti foundation of humility and service to the guru, through whom right understanding and disciplined practice are received.
It points to mastery of the Vedāṅgas and their bhāṣyas—practical disciplines that support correct recitation, interpretation, and application of Vedic teaching (e.g., Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Chandas, Nirukta, Jyotiṣa, Kalpa).