Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds

Devanagari script

इति निश्चित्य मनसा मन्वादीरितधर्मकान् । आचार्येभ्यः सदा भूपः श्रृणोति विधिपूर्वकम् ॥ ६५ ॥

Transliteration

iti niścitya manasā manvādīritadharmakān | ācāryebhyaḥ sadā bhūpaḥ śrṛṇoti vidhipūrvakam || 65 ||

Translation

Demikianlah setelah meneguhkan tekad di dalam batin untuk mengikuti dharma yang diajarkan Manu dan para penetap dharma lainnya, sang raja senantiasa mendengarkannya dari para ācārya menurut tata cara yang semestinya.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative particle)

• निश्चित्य: having ascertained/decided
• निश्चित्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√चि (धातु) + क्त्वा (क्त्वान्त/अव्ययभाव)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिकक्रिया (prior action)

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• मनु-आदि-ईरित-धर्मकान्: the duties taught by Manu and others
• मनु-आदि-ईरित-धर्मकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + ईरित (कृदन्त, √ईर्/ईरय्) + धर्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मन्वादिभिः ईरिताः ये धर्मकाः तान्)

• आचार्येभ्यः: from the teachers
• आचार्येभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी/चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Ablative/Dative), बहुवचन; अत्र स्रोतृ-सम्बन्धे ‘from’ (पञ्चमी)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• भूपः: the king
• भूपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन

• शृणोति: he listens/hears
• शृणोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विधि-पूर्वकम्: according to proper procedure
• विधि-पूर्वकम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narrative voice within the dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Manu
• Acharya
• Bhupa (king)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that dharma is not self-invented: one should internally resolve to live by the time-tested teachings of Manu and other authorities, and then receive them through disciplined hearing from qualified ācāryas.

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

By highlighting vidhi-pūrvaka śravaṇa (proper, rule-guided hearing), it supports the bhakti principle that spiritual life begins with attentive listening under guidance—creating the ethical and mental steadiness needed for sustained devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to vidhi (procedural correctness) and ācārya-based transmission—aligned with Kalpa (ritual procedure) and the disciplined study method that underlies Vedāṅga learning.