Shloka 23

Puruṣottama-māhātmya

The Greatness of Puruṣottama Kṣetra

Devanagari script

वरुणो यादसां यद्वद्यमः संयमिनां यथा । क्षीरोदः सागराणां च देवर्षिणां च नारदः ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

varuṇo yādasāṃ yadvadyamaḥ saṃyamināṃ yathā | kṣīrodaḥ sāgarāṇāṃ ca devarṣiṇāṃ ca nāradaḥ || 23 ||

Translation

ଯେପରି ଜଳଚରମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବରୁଣ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, ଯେପରି ସଂୟମ ପାଳନକାରୀମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଯମ ପ୍ରଧାନ; ଯେପରି ସମୁଦ୍ରମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ କ୍ଷୀରୋଦ ସମୁଦ୍ର ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, ସେପରି ଦେବର୍ଷିମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ନାରଦ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ।

Word by Word

• वरुणः: Varuṇa
• वरुणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• यादसाम्: of aquatic beings (water-creatures)
• यादसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यादस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (यादस्), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• यद्वत्: just as
• यद्वत्: Upamana-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (indeclinable: “just as”)

• यमः: Yama
• यमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• संयमिनाम्: of the self-controlled (restrainers)
• संयमिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयमिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Upamana-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (indeclinable of comparison: “as/like”)

• क्षीर-उदः: the Milk-ocean
• क्षीर-उदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक) + उद (प्रातिपदिक ‘water/sea’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सागराणाम्: of oceans
• सागराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction: “and”)

• देव-ऋषिणाम्: of divine sages
• देव-ऋषिणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction: “and”)

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (narrative attribution within Uttara-Bhaga; verse praising Narada’s pre-eminence among devarṣis)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Varuna
• Yama
• Kshiroda (Milk Ocean)
• Narada

FAQs

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

It establishes a hierarchy of exemplars—each being “best-in-class” in its domain—to underscore Nārada’s spiritual authority among the devarṣis, encouraging trust in the teachings and sacred accounts he transmits.

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

By highlighting Nārada as foremost among divine seers, it implicitly points devotees toward bhakti taught through Nārada’s guidance—devotion grounded in faithful hearing (śravaṇa) and transmission of the Lord’s glories.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is the dharmic principle of recognizing qualified authority (pramāṇa) and reliable teachers in scriptural learning.