Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

Śuka’s Origin, Mastery of Śāstra, and Testing at Janaka’s Court

Devanagari script

अधीष्व मोक्षशास्त्रं वै धर्मांश्च विविधानपि । पितुर्निदेशाज्जग्राह शुको ब्रह्मविदां वरः ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

adhīṣva mokṣaśāstraṃ vai dharmāṃśca vividhānapi | piturnideśājjagrāha śuko brahmavidāṃ varaḥ || 46 ||

Translation

“ಮೋಕ್ಷಶಾಸ್ತ್ರವನ್ನು ಅಧ್ಯಯನ ಮಾಡು; ಧರ್ಮದ ನಾನಾವಿಧ ರೂಪಗಳನ್ನೂ ತಿಳಿ”—ಎಂದು ತಂದೆಯ ಆಜ್ಞೆಯಿಂದ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮವಿದರಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠನಾದ ಶುಕನು ಆ ಉಪದೇಶವನ್ನು ಅಂಗೀಕರಿಸಿದನು।

Word by Word

• अधीष्व: study (you)
• अधीष्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-इ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपद

• मोक्ष-शास्त्रम्: the treatise on liberation
• मोक्ष-शास्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (singular)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• धर्मान्: duties; dharmas
• धर्मान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन (plural)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• विविधान्: various
• विविधान्: Karma-qualifier (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (qualifier) of धर्मान्

• अपि: also
• अपि: Emphasis/Addition (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also/even)

• पितुः: of (his) father
• पितुः: Shashthi-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (singular)

• निदेशात्: from the instruction
• निदेशात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), पञ्चमी (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन (singular)

• जग्राह: accepted; took up
• जग्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपद

• शुकः: Śuka
• शुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (singular)

• ब्रह्मविदाम्: of the knowers of Brahman
• ब्रह्मविदाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु) → विद् (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन (plural); ‘ब्रह्मविद्’ = ब्रह्म जानाति इति (knower of Brahman)

• वरः: the best
• वरः: Karta-apposition (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); शुकः इत्यस्य विशेषण/उपाधि

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic recitation context; verse describes Śuka following his father’s instruction)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Śuka (Śukadeva)
• Father of Śuka (Vyāsa, implied)

FAQs

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

It presents mokṣa (liberation) as a disciplined study grounded in śāstra and guided by a teacher, while affirming that diverse forms of dharma support the pursuit of Brahman-realization.

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

Though bhakti is not named here, the verse establishes the Narada Purana pattern: liberation-teachings are approached through obedient discipleship and dharma—foundations that later mature into steady devotion and surrender in Vishnu-centric instruction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is directly mentioned; the practical takeaway is śāstra-adhyayana (systematic study) under instruction, which is the prerequisite method for applying any Vedic auxiliary science correctly.