Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

यथार्थकथनं यञ्च धर्माधर्मविवेकतः । सत्यं प्राहुर्मुनिश्रेष्ट अस्तेयं श्रृणु साम्प्रतम् ॥ ७७ ॥

Transliteration

yathārthakathanaṃ yañca dharmādharmavivekataḥ | satyaṃ prāhurmuniśreṣṭa asteyaṃ śrṛṇu sāmpratam || 77 ||

Translation

おお牟尼の最勝よ、ダルマとアダルマを弁別しつつ、ありのままを語ることを「サティヤ（真実）」と賢者は言う。いま「アステーヤ（不盗）」を聴け。

Word by Word

• यथार्थकथनम्: speaking the truth as it is
• यथार्थकथनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यथार्थ + कथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी/कर्मधारयभावः—‘यथार्थस्य कथनम्’ (speaking what is as it is)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता/Relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

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

• धर्माधर्मविवेकतः: from discernment of right and wrong
• धर्माधर्मविवेकतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धर्म + अधर्म + विवेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’; समासः—धर्माधर्मयोः विवेकः (distinguishing dharma and adharma)

• सत्यम्: truthfulness
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्राहुः: they call/declare
• प्राहुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुनिश्रेष्ट: O best of sages
• मुनिश्रेष्ट: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनाम् श्रेष्ठः)

• अस्तेयम्: non-stealing
• अस्तेयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्तेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शृणु: hear/listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• साम्प्रतम्: now/at present
• साम्प्रतम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साम्प्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It defines satya as truthful speech rooted in dharma-adharma discernment, showing that spiritual life requires ethical clarity, not merely factual speech.

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

Bhakti is strengthened by inner purity; the verse frames truthfulness as dharmic discrimination, a necessary discipline that supports sincere devotion and prevents harm through speech.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights viveka (discriminative judgment) applied to conduct; while not a direct Vedanga lesson, it aligns with dharma-based interpretation used in Smriti and ethical application of scriptural guidance.