Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

शिष्यानध्यापयंतं च पैलादीन्वेदसंहिताः । आरर्णेयो विशुद्धात्मा दिवाकरसमप्रभः ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

śiṣyānadhyāpayaṃtaṃ ca pailādīnvedasaṃhitāḥ | ārarṇeyo viśuddhātmā divākarasamaprabhaḥ || 51 ||

Translation

Et il instruisait ses disciples—Paila et les autres—dans les Saṃhitās védiques. Cet Ārarṇeya, l’âme purifiée, rayonnait d’un éclat égal à celui du soleil.

Word by Word

• शिष्यान्: disciples
• शिष्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अध्यापयन्तम्: teaching
• अध्यापयन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-आप्/अधि-इ (अध्यापयति; धातु-प्रयोगः causative of अधि-इ/अधि-आ)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘teaching’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पैलादीन्: Paila and others
• पैलादीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पैल-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘पैलः आदिः येषां ते’ (Paila and others)

• वेदसंहिताः: Vedic collections
• वेदसंहिताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद-संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘वेदानां संहिताः’

• आरर्णेयः: Ārarṇeya
• आरर्णेयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरर्णेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• विशुद्धात्मा: pure-souled
• विशुद्धात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशुद्ध-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक); विशुद्ध (वि-शुध्, क्त) + आत्मन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• दिवाकरसमप्रभः: having radiance like the sun
• दिवाकरसमप्रभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिवाकर-सम-प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक); दिवाकर + सम + प्रभ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘दिवाकरवत् प्रभा यस्य’

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Paila
• Ararneyā (Ārarṇeya)
• Veda

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Vedic knowledge is preserved through disciplined guru–śiṣya transmission, and that inner purity (viśuddhātmā) is the hallmark that makes a teacher’s wisdom luminous and authoritative.

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

While not directly describing bhakti practices, it supports bhakti indirectly by affirming the sanctity of Vedic revelation and the purity of the teacher—foundations upon which devotion to Bhagavān and dharma-based living are correctly learned.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights Veda-saṃhitā study itself (śruti recitation and preservation), which in practice depends on Vedāṅga supports like Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar) to transmit the Saṃhitā accurately.