Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

Janaka Instructs Śuka: Āśrama-Sequence, Guru-Dependence, and Marks of Liberation

Devanagari script

सनन्दन उवाच । ततः स राजा सहितो मंत्रिभिर्द्विजसत्तम । पुरः पुरोहितं कृत्वा सर्वाण्यंतः पुराणि च ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

sanandana uvāca | tataḥ sa rājā sahito maṃtribhirdvijasattama | puraḥ purohitaṃ kṛtvā sarvāṇyaṃtaḥ purāṇi ca || 1 ||

Translation

ସନନ୍ଦନ କହିଲେ—ତାପରେ ସେ ରାଜା, ହେ ଦ୍ୱିଜଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀମାନଙ୍କ ସହ, ପୁରୋହିତଙ୍କୁ ଅଗ୍ରେ ରଖି ଏବଂ ଅନ୍ତଃପୁରର ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ସହ ନେଇ ଆଗକୁ ପ୍ରସ୍ଥାନ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• सनन्दनः: Sanandana
• सनन्दनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; pronoun nominative singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular

• सहितः: accompanied
• सहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सह (उपसर्ग) + इ (धातु) / सहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘accompanied’

• मन्त्रिभिः: with ministers
• मन्त्रिभिः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; instrumental plural

• द्विजसत्तम: O best of Brahmins
• द्विजसत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज+सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय-प्राय: ‘श्रेष्ठो द्विजः’) vocative

• पुरः: in front
• पुरः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरः (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (in front/at the fore)

• पुरोहितम्: the priest (purohita)
• पुरोहितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरः+हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अव्ययीभाव-प्राय/उपपद: ‘पुरः’ + ‘हित’) accusative singular

• कृत्वा: having made/appointed
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘having made/appointed’

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; accusative plural (qualifying पुराणि)

• अन्तःपुराणि: inner apartments/harems
• अन्तःपुराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तः+पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (अव्ययीभाव-प्राय: ‘अन्तः’ + ‘पुर’) accusative plural

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

Speaker

Sanandana

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira (heroic)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Sanandana
• Raja
• Purohita
• Mantrin

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic preparedness: a ruler does not act impulsively but proceeds under the guidance of a purohita and with orderly support, indicating that spiritual or sacred undertakings should be aligned with counsel, ritual propriety, and responsibility.

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

Indirectly, it frames devotion as disciplined and guided: approaching sacred aims with reverence for spiritual authority (the purohita) and proper conduct, which are supportive conditions for sustained bhakti and dharmic living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds the function of the purohita, implying applied Kalpa (ritual procedure) and allied priestly disciplines (mantra-usage and timing), which guide a king’s actions in accordance with Vedic injunctions.