Shloka 23

Devanagari script

भ्रममाणो गिरिवरं कुतूहलमनास्तदा । प्राप्तं मच्छ्रवणे गीतं तव वक्त्रविनिर्गतम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

bhramamāṇo girivaraṃ kutūhalamanāstadā | prāptaṃ macchravaṇe gītaṃ tava vaktravinirgatam || 23 ||

Translation

ആ ശ്രേഷ്ഠ പർവ്വതത്തിൽ അലഞ്ഞുനടക്കുമ്പോൾ എന്റെ മനസ്സ് കൗതുകത്തോടെ നിറഞ്ഞിരുന്നു; അപ്പോൾ നിന്റെ വായിൽ നിന്നുയർന്ന ഗാനം എന്റെ ചെവികളിൽ എത്തി.

Word by Word

• भ्रममाणः: wandering
• भ्रममाणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु) → भ्रममाण (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि: ‘wandering’

• गिरिवरम्: the excellent mountain
• गिरिवरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि-वर (प्रातिपदिक; गिरि + वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: ‘वरः गिरिः’ (excellent mountain)

• कुतूहलमनाः: curious-minded
• कुतूहलमनाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुतूहल-मनस् (प्रातिपदिक; कुतूहल + मनस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘कुतूहलेन मनः यस्य’ (mind full of curiosity)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Desha-Kala (देश-काल/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• प्राप्तम्: reached, came (to)
• प्राप्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘was obtained/reached’

• मत्-श्रवणे: in my ear / to my hearing
• मत्-श्रवणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् + श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक; मत् + श्रवण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘मम श्रवणे’

• गीतम्: song
• गीतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीत (प्रातिपदिक; √गै ‘to sing’ से क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तव: your
• तव: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• वक्त्रविनिर्गतम्: coming forth from (your) mouth
• वक्त्रविनिर्गतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्त्र-विनिर्गत (प्रातिपदिक; वक्त्र + विनिर्गत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘वक्त्रात् विनिर्गतम्’ (issued from the mouth)

Speaker

Narrator (a listener addressing the singer/teacher in the episode)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It highlights śravaṇa (devotional hearing) as a decisive turning point: sacred sound, received with curiosity and openness, becomes the doorway to inner transformation during pilgrimage.

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

Bhakti begins with receptivity—hearing (śravaṇa) what is sung or spoken by a spiritually potent voice; the verse frames kīrtana/gīta as a grace-bearing transmission that reaches the listener and awakens devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse implicitly emphasizes correct vocal transmission—clear utterance and audible reception—aligned with Śikṣā (phonetics) as the practical basis for preserving and conveying sacred recitation.