Shloka 2

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

वेदोपनिषदां वेत्ता ऋषि: सुरगणार्चित: । इतिहासपुराणज्ञ: पुराकल्पविशेषवित्‌

Transliteration

vedopaniṣadāṁ vettā ṛṣiḥ suragaṇārcitaḥ | itihāsapurāṇajñaḥ purākalpaviśeṣavit ||

Translation

അദ്ദേഹം വേദങ്ങളും ഉപനിഷത്തുകളും പൂർണ്ണമായി അറിഞ്ഞ ഒരു ഋഷിയായിരുന്നു; ദേവഗണങ്ങൾ ആരാധിച്ചവൻ. ഇതിഹാസ-പുരാണങ്ങളിൽ പണ്ഡിതനും, പുരാതന കല്പങ്ങളുടെ പ്രത്യേക വിവരണങ്ങളിൽ പോലും നിപുണനും ആയിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

वेदोपनिषदाम्of the Vedas and Upaniṣads

वेत्ताknower

ऋषिःsage

सुरगणार्चितःhonored by hosts of gods

इतिहासपुराणज्ञःknowing the Itihāsa and Purāṇa

पुराकल्पविशेषवित्knower of the particularities of ancient cycles/ages

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Ṛ

ṛṣi (sage)

suragaṇa (hosts of gods)

Vedas

Upaniṣads

Itihāsa

Purāṇa

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse establishes the credibility of a speaker/figure by listing traditional markers of authority: mastery of śruti (Veda–Upaniṣad), reverence even among divine beings, and competence in itihāsa–purāṇa and ancient accounts. Ethically, it implies that guidance on dharma should be grounded in disciplined learning and trustworthy tradition.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing a revered sage/authority figure, emphasizing his scriptural mastery and honored status. This functions as a narrative credentialing, preparing the listener to accept ensuing counsel or events as reliably transmitted and dharmically informed.