Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

The Outline (Anukramaṇī) of the Viṣṇu Purāṇa

Devanagari script

केशिध्वजेन चेत्येष षष्ठोंऽशः परिकीर्तितः । अतः परं तु सूतेन शौनकादिभिरादरात् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

keśidhvajena cetyeṣa ṣaṣṭhoṃ'śaḥ parikīrtitaḥ | ataḥ paraṃ tu sūtena śaunakādibhirādarāt || 17 ||

Translation

अशा रीतीने केशिध्वजाने हा सहावा अंश कथन केला; पुढे सुतांनी शौनकादी ऋषींना आदराने वर्णन केले आहे.

Word by Word

• केशिध्वजेन: by Keśidhvaja
• केशिध्वजेन: Karaṇa/Agent-instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशिध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक अव्यय (quotative: 'thus')

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• षष्ठः: sixth
• षष्ठः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—अंशः

• अंशः: section/part
• अंशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• परिकीर्तितः: is proclaimed
• परिकीर्तितः: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः—'is proclaimed/celebrated'

• अतः: thereafter
• अतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb), हेत्वर्थ/अनन्तरार्थ ('thereafter/from this')

• परम्: further/next
• परम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगवत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative: 'further/next')

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय (particle: 'but/indeed')

• सूतेन: by Sūta
• सूतेन: Karaṇa/Agent-instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• शौनकादिभिः: by Śaunaka and others
• शौनकादिभिः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—शौनकः आदिः येषां तैः (आदि-समासः; व्यवहारतः तत्पुरुष)

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे पञ्चमी ('out of respect')

Speaker

Suta (narratorial framing, addressing Śaunaka and other sages)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Keśidhvaja
• Sūta
• Śaunaka

FAQs

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

It emphasizes sacred transmission: a section is first taught in a holy setting (caitya) and then preserved through respectful recitation by an authorized narrator (Sūta) for the assembly of sages.

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

Indirectly, it highlights bhakti’s foundation in śravaṇa (hearing): reverent listening and faithful retelling among devotees and sages safeguards dharma and puranic teachings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects the importance of correct recitation and textual continuity—aligned with Śikṣā (phonetics/recitation discipline) and Vyākaraṇa (clarity of wording)—so that puranic sections are transmitted without distortion.