Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

Varṇāśrama Saṁskāras, Upanayana Windows, Brahmacārin Ācāra, and Anadhyāya Prohibitions

Devanagari script

ज्ञानवृद्धास्तपोवृद्धा वयोवृद्धा इति त्रयः । आध्यात्मिकादिदुःखानि निवारयति यो गुरुः ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

jñānavṛddhāstapovṛddhā vayovṛddhā iti trayaḥ | ādhyātmikādiduḥkhāni nivārayati yo guruḥ || 34 ||

Translation

ജ്ഞാനവൃദ്ധൻ, തപോവൃദ്ധൻ, വയോവൃദ്ധൻ—ഇങ്ങനെ മൂന്നു തരത്തിലുള്ള ‘വൃദ്ധർ’ ഉണ്ട്. എന്നാൽ ആധ്യാത്മികാദി ദുഃഖങ്ങൾ നീക്കുന്നതവനേ യഥാർത്ഥ ഗുരു.

Word by Word

• ज्ञान-वृद्धाः: those advanced in knowledge
• ज्ञान-वृद्धाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘ज्ञानस्य वृद्धाः’

• तपः-वृद्धाः: those advanced in austerity
• तपः-वृद्धाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘तपसः वृद्धाः’

• वयः-वृद्धाः: those advanced in age
• वयः-वृद्धाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वयस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘वयसः वृद्धाः’

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative particle)

• त्रयः: three (kinds)
• त्रयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-शब्दः (numeral)

• आध्यात्मिक-आदि-दुःखानि: pains beginning with the spiritual (i.e., spiritual etc. sufferings)
• आध्यात्मिक-आदि-दुःखानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आध्यात्मिक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः ‘आध्यात्मिकादीनि दुःखानि’ (ādi = ‘and the like’)

• निवारयति: removes, wards off
• निवारयति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√वृ (धातु) (causative sense: निवारयति)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• गुरुः: teacher, guru
• गुरुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the guru-discourse context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Guru

FAQs

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

It defines a ‘true Guru’ not by age or reputation but by efficacy: the genuine teacher is the one who can remove the disciple’s inner and threefold sufferings and lead toward clarity and liberation.

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

By implying that Bhakti and other sādhana become fruitful under proper guidance: a real Guru clears inner obstacles (ādhyātmika duḥkha) that block steady remembrance and devotion to the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is discernment (viveka) in choosing a teacher based on transformative spiritual results, not external seniority.