Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

The Description of the Glory of the Purāṇa

Purāṇa-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

नारदोऽपि ततो विप्रा कुमारेभ्यः समीहितम् । लब्ध्वा ज्ञानं सविज्ञानं भृशं प्रीतमना ह्यभूत् ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

nārado'pi tato viprā kumārebhyaḥ samīhitam | labdhvā jñānaṃ savijñānaṃ bhṛśaṃ prītamanā hyabhūt || 6 ||

Translation

Wahai para brāhmaṇa, kemudian Nārada pun memperoleh dari para Kumāra pengetahuan yang diidamkan—jñāna beserta vijñāna (pemahaman yang terwujud)—dan hatinya menjadi sangat bersukacita.

Word by Word

• nāradaḥ: Nārada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) ‘also’

• tataḥ: then/from there
• tataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (ततः)

• viprāḥ: O brāhmaṇas
• viprāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Plural; address to ‘O brāhmaṇas’

• kumārebhyaḥ: from the Kumāras
• kumārebhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Plural (also dative possible by form; here source: ‘from the Kumāras’)

• samīhitam: the desired (teaching/goal)
• samīhitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sam-īhita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √īh with sam-)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; past passive participle used substantively: ‘desired/aimed-for (thing)’

• labdhvā: having obtained
• labdhvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त)

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sa-vijñānam: with realized understanding
• sa-vijñānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक) + vijñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘with vijñāna (realized/experiential knowledge)’ qualifying jñānam

• bhṛśam: greatly
• bhṛśam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhṛśam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (परिमाणवाचक अव्यय) ‘greatly’

• prīta-manāḥ: with a delighted mind
• prīta-manāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prīta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √prī) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहि: ‘one whose mind is pleased’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) giving emphasis/causal nuance

• abhūt: became/was
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; √bhū ‘to be/become’

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing Narada's attainment from the Kumaras

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Kumaras (Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, Sanatkumara)

FAQs

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

It distinguishes mere conceptual knowledge (jñāna) from realized, lived insight (vijñāna), showing that true spiritual attainment culminates in inner joy and clarity when received through a pure lineage (the Kumāras).

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

While the verse is framed in jñāna-vijñāna language, it supports Bhakti by emphasizing authentic transmission from perfected sages; such realized knowledge typically matures into unwavering devotion and heartfelt delight—marks of a bhakta’s inner transformation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is named; the practical takeaway is the Purāṇic principle of learning through qualified teachers and attaining vijñāna—knowledge verified by direct realization, not only study.