Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

Janaka Instructs Śuka: Āśrama-Sequence, Guru-Dependence, and Marks of Liberation

Devanagari script

पर्यपृच्छन्महातेजाराज्ञः कुशलमव्ययम् । उदारसत्त्वाभिजनो राजापि गुरुसूनवे ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

paryapṛcchanmahātejārājñaḥ kuśalamavyayam | udārasattvābhijano rājāpi gurusūnave || 5 ||

Translation

Celui dont l’éclat était immense s’enquit auprès du roi de son bien-être inaltérable. Et le roi, noble de cœur et de naissance, demanda à son tour des nouvelles du fils du Guru.

Word by Word

• पर्यपृच्छत्: asked (inquired)
• पर्यपृच्छत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (भूतकाल), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महातेजाः: greatly radiant / mighty
• महातेजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘महत् तेजः यस्य सः’ (as adjective)

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुशलम्: welfare
• कुशलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अव्ययम्: undiminished / unfailing
• अव्ययम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of कुशलम्)

• उदारसत्त्वाभिजनः: of noble character and lineage
• उदारसत्त्वाभिजनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदार + सत्त्व + अभिजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘उदारं सत्त्वं च अभिजनश्च यस्य’ (as epithet)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/also)

• गुरुसूनवे: to the teacher’s son
• गुरुसूनवे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + सूनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘गुरोः सूनुः’

Speaker

Narrator (Suta-style narrative voice within the Purana’s dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• King
• Guru’s son

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic conduct in conversation—mutual inquiry into welfare—showing humility and respect as the foundation for higher teachings in Moksha-dharma.

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

By stressing reverence toward the guru’s line (gurusūnu) and courteous humility, it supports the bhakti ethos where respect, service, and right conduct prepare the mind for devotion to the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; it instead emphasizes dharmic etiquette (sadācāra) that traditionally accompanies Vedic learning and transmission.