Shloka 23
Puruṣottama-māhātmya
The Greatness of Puruṣottama Kṣetra
वरुणो यादसां यद्वद्यमः संयमिनां यथा । क्षीरोदः सागराणां च देवर्षिणां च नारदः ॥ २३ ॥
varuṇo yādasāṃ yadvadyamaḥ saṃyamināṃ yathā | kṣīrodaḥ sāgarāṇāṃ ca devarṣiṇāṃ ca nāradaḥ || 23 ||
水の生きものの中でヴァルナが最勝であり、制御を司る者の中でヤマが最勝であり、海の中で乳海が最勝であるように、同じく天の聖仙（デーヴァリシ）の中でナーラダが最勝である。
Narada (narrative attribution within Uttara-Bhaga; verse praising Narada’s pre-eminence among devarṣis)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)
Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)
FAQs
It establishes a hierarchy of exemplars—each being “best-in-class” in its domain—to underscore Nārada’s spiritual authority among the devarṣis, encouraging trust in the teachings and sacred accounts he transmits.
By highlighting Nārada as foremost among divine seers, it implicitly points devotees toward bhakti taught through Nārada’s guidance—devotion grounded in faithful hearing (śravaṇa) and transmission of the Lord’s glories.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is the dharmic principle of recognizing qualified authority (pramāṇa) and reliable teachers in scriptural learning.