Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

शुको जनकराजेन संवादं मोक्षसाधनम् । तच्छ्रत्वा वेदकर्तासौ प्रहृष्टेनांतरात्मना ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

śuko janakarājena saṃvādaṃ mokṣasādhanam | tacchratvā vedakartāsau prahṛṣṭenāṃtarātmanā || 53 ||

Translation

Śuka rapporta au roi Janaka le dialogue, moyen de délivrance ; en l’entendant, ce compilateur des Veda se réjouit au plus profond de son cœur.

Word by Word

• शुकः: Śuka
• शुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जनकराजेन: by King Janaka
• जनकराजेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक-राज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘जनकः राजा’

• संवादम्: dialogue
• संवादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मोक्षसाधनम्: a means to liberation
• मोक्षसाधनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्ष-साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (संवादम्)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (श्रुत्वा इत्यस्य कर्म)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having heard’

• वेदकर्ता: the compiler of the Vedas
• वेदकर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद-कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक); वेद + कर्तृ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपाधि (Vyāsa)

• असौ: that person (he)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रहृष्टेन: with great joy
• प्रहृष्टेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रहृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; प्र-हृष्, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (अन्तरात्मना सह)

• अन्तरात्मना: with (his) inner self/heart
• अन्तरात्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अन्तःस्थित आत्मा’

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Moksha-dharma section; verse references Śuka and Vyāsa)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Shuka (Śukadeva)
• Janaka
• Vyasa (Veda-karta)

FAQs

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

It elevates liberating dialogue (mokṣa-sādhana saṃvāda) as a direct spiritual practice: hearing true instruction gladdens and transforms even the highest authorities, symbolized by Vyāsa.

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

While the verse centers on moksha through discourse, it supports bhakti indirectly by praising attentive hearing (śravaṇa) of sacred teaching—one of the core devotional disciplines when the teaching concerns the Lord and liberation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is the primacy of śravaṇa (disciplined listening) and upadeśa (instruction) as a method of transmission; it is not a technical Vedāṅga verse (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa), but it underscores the pedagogical core of Vedic learning.