Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

Dhvaja-Dhāraṇa Mahātmyam: Sumati–Satyamatī, Humility, and Deliverance by Hari’s Messengers

Devanagari script

अवेदयत्स्ववृत्तान्तं तच्छृणुष्व महामुने । नान्मावकोकिला चाहं निषादकुलसम्भवा ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

avedayatsvavṛttāntaṃ tacchṛṇuṣva mahāmune | nānmāvakokilā cāhaṃ niṣādakulasambhavā || 44 ||

Translation

അവൾ പിന്നെ തന്റെ വൃത്താന്തം അറിയിച്ചു—“ഹേ മഹാമുനേ, കേൾക്കുക. ഞാൻ വാകോകിലയല്ല; ഞാൻ നിഷാദകുലത്തിൽ ജനിച്ചവൾ.”

Word by Word

• अवेदयत्: did not tell
• अवेदयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अ-√विद्/√वेद् (धातु) (causative sense √विद् → वेदयति)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘(she) did not inform/make known’

• स्ववृत्तान्तम्: her own account/story
• स्ववृत्तान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्तान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य वृत्तान्तः)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• शृणुष्व: listen
• शृणुष्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘listen!’

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् मुनिः)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अवकोकिला: a cuckoo (bird)
• अवकोकिला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवकोकिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; जातिवाचक-नाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• निषादकुलसम्भवा: born in a Niṣāda family
• निषादकुलसम्भवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निषाद (प्रातिपदिक) + कुल (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (कृदन्त; सम्-√भू धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (निषादानां कुलात् सम्भवा)

Speaker

Unnamed woman (speaking to a sage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna (compassion)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Niṣāda
• Kokilā (cuckoo)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes truthfulness and self-disclosure in dharmic dialogue—one should speak plainly about one’s identity and circumstances before seeking judgment, counsel, or protection.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti’s inner ethic: sincerity (ārjavam) and honesty. Devotion in the Puranic context is strengthened when one approaches sages and the divine without deception.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa (grammar) and nirukti-style clarity are implicit: precise naming and correct identification (e.g., “not a kokilā”) show the importance of exact language in conveying truth.