Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16
The Greatness of Viṣṇu
Viṣṇor Māhātmya
कदाचिदुपविष्टं तं राजानं विष्णुतत्परम् । अपृच्छद्वीतिहोत्रस्तु वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः ॥ १६ ॥
kadācidupaviṣṭaṃ taṃ rājānaṃ viṣṇutatparam | apṛcchadvītihotrastu vedavedāṅgapāragaḥ || 16 ||
ఒకసారి విష్ణుపరాయణుడైన ఆ రాజు కూర్చుండగా, వేదవేదాంగాలలో పారంగతుడైన వీతిహోత్రుడు అతనిని ప్రశ్నించాడు।
Narrator (Purana narrative voice; likely Suta recounting the episode)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It highlights an ideal setting for dharmic instruction: a Viṣṇu-devoted ruler is approached by a Veda–Vedāṅga master, showing that devotion (bhakti) and scriptural learning together lead to meaningful inquiry and guidance.
By describing the king as viṣṇu-tatpara (single-minded toward Viṣṇu), the verse frames bhakti as focused inner orientation; the ensuing questioning implies that true devotion welcomes clarification through respectful dialogue.
The verse points to competence in the Vedāṅgas—such as Śikṣā (phonetics), Vyākaraṇa (grammar), Chandas (meter), Nirukta (etymology), Jyotiṣa (astronomy/astrology), and Kalpa (ritual procedure)—as the scholarly foundation for precise questioning and correct practice.