Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

The Exposition of Spiritual Knowledge

Jñāna-pradarśanam

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्ततस्तेन जानन्तिर्मुनिसत्तमः । प्रोवाच प्रहसन्वाग्मी वेदमालि गुणान्वितम् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

evamuktastatastena jānantirmunisattamaḥ | provāca prahasanvāgmī vedamāli guṇānvitam || 41 ||

Translation

അവൻ ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ മുനിശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ ജാനന്തി പുഞ്ചിരിയോടെ പറഞ്ഞു. വാക്ചാതുര്യമുള്ളവനും വേദമാലയാൽ അലങ്കൃതനും ഗുണസമ്പന്നനുമായ അദ്ദേഹം വേദമാലിയോട് സംസാരിച്ചു॥

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• उक्तः: having been spoken to
• उक्तः: कर्म (Karma; one who was addressed)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग-सूचक (spoken/addressed)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: कालाधिकरण (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: thereafter/from then)

• तेन: by him
• तेन: कर्ता (Agent in passive construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जानन्तिः: Jānanti
• जानन्तिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानन्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मुनि-सत्तमः: the best of sages
• मुनि-सत्तमः: कर्ता (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: तत्पुरुष (श्रेष्ठः मुनिः = best of sages)

• प्रोवाच: said
• प्रोवाच: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• प्रहसन्: smiling
• प्रहसन्: क्रियाविशेषण (Concomitant action)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + हस् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (while smiling)

• वाग्मी: eloquent
• वाग्मी: कर्ता (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाग्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (eloquent)

• वेदमालि: to Vedamālī
• वेदमालि: सम्प्रदान/कर्म (Recipient/Object of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदमालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; (नाम/सम्बोधन-प्रायः, here object of 'said to')

• गुण-अन्वितम्: endowed with virtues
• गुण-अन्वितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of 'वेदमालि')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (अनु+इ धातु, क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: तत्पुरुष (गुणैः अन्वितः = endowed with virtues)

Speaker

Jānantī (munisattamā)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Jānantī

FAQs

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

It highlights the ideal authority for spiritual instruction: a virtuous, Veda-grounded sage who responds with clarity and goodwill, indicating that sacred knowledge is transmitted through qualified teachers in a respectful dialogue.

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

While Bhakti is not named directly here, the verse sets the devotional tone of humility and receptivity—being ‘addressed’ and then receiving guidance from a virtuous, Veda-steeped teacher—an essential framework in the Purana’s bhakti-oriented instruction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The epithet vedamālī implies mastery of Vedic learning and its supporting disciplines (Vedāṅgas) such as Vyākaraṇa (grammar) and Śikṣā (phonetics), which enable precise, eloquent teaching (vāgmī) in scriptural discourse.