Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

Śuka’s Origin, Mastery of Śāstra, and Testing at Janaka’s Court

Devanagari script

त्रिषु गार्हस्थ्यमूलेषु मोक्षधर्मानुदर्शिनः । स मोक्षमनुचिंत्यैव शुकः पितरमभ्यगात् ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

triṣu gārhasthyamūleṣu mokṣadharmānudarśinaḥ | sa mokṣamanuciṃtyaiva śukaḥ pitaramabhyagāt || 43 ||

Translation

Setelah meneliti dharma pembebasan (mokṣa-dharma) yang berakar pada tiga asas kehidupan berumah tangga, Śuka—hanya merenungkan mokṣa—pergi menemui ayahandanya.

Word by Word

• triṣu: in the three
• triṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Locative Plural); संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• gārhasthya-mūleṣu: in the roots/foundations of householdership
• gārhasthya-mūleṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gārhasthya (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Locative, Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘गार्हस्थ्यस्य मूलानि’

• mokṣa-dharmān: the doctrines/duties of liberation
• mokṣa-dharmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Plural); तत्पुरुष: ‘मोक्षस्य धर्माः’

• anudarśinaḥ: observing/following
• anudarśinaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-√dṛś > anudarśin (कृदन्त, शतृ/णिनि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural); ‘अनुदर्शिन्’ = observing/following

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• mokṣam: liberation
• mokṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• anuciṃtya: having reflected upon
• anuciṃtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu-√cint > anuciṃtya (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive): ‘having reflected’

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• śukaḥ: Śuka
• śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• pitaram: (his) father
• pitaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• abhyagāt: went to, approached
• abhyagāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√gam (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular, Aorist)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition on Moksha-dharma)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Śuka
• Father of Śuka (Vyāsa)

FAQs

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

It highlights single-pointed mokṣa-anusandhāna: after discerning liberation-oriented dharma even in life’s foundational duties, Śuka turns wholly toward liberation and seeks guidance from his father (Vyāsa).

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

Though the verse stresses mokṣa-contemplation, it supports the bhakti framework of one-pointed focus (ekāgratā): a seeker becomes exclusive in aim—here, liberation—just as bhakti becomes exclusive in devotion to the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharma-viveka—discriminating which duties and disciplines (āśrama-based) support the final goal of mokṣa.