Shloka 13
The Appearance of Śrī Nārada and Vyāsa’s Dissatisfaction
Veda-vibhāga and the Need for Bhakti
तत्सर्वं न: समाचक्ष्व पृष्टो यदिह किञ्चन । मन्ये त्वां विषये वाचां स्नातमन्यत्र छान्दसात् ॥ १३ ॥
tat sarvaṁ naḥ samācakṣva pṛṣṭo yad iha kiñcana manye tvāṁ viṣaye vācāṁ snātam anyatra chāndasāt
ขอท่านจงอธิบายแก่เราทั้งหมดตามที่เราถามไว้ ณ ที่นี้ เราเห็นว่าท่านชำนาญในความหมายแห่งถ้อยคำทุกแขนง ยกเว้นบางส่วนแห่งฉันทัส (พระเวท) เท่านั้น
The difference between the Vedas and the Purāṇas is like that between the brāhmaṇas and the parivrājakas. The brāhmaṇas are meant to administer some fruitive sacrifices mentioned in the Vedas, but the parivrājakācāryas, or learned preachers, are meant to disseminate transcendental knowledge to one and all. As such, the parivrājakācāryas are not always expert in pronouncing the Vedic mantras, which are practiced systematically by accent and meter by the brāhmaṇas who are meant for administering Vedic rites. Yet it should not be considered that the brāhmaṇas are more important than the itinerant preachers. They are one and different simultaneously because they are meant for the same end, in different ways.
FAQs
This verse praises a realized speaker as one who knows the true purport of Vedic words, not merely the ritualistic (chāndasa/karma-kāṇḍa) portion—pointing seekers toward essential spiritual understanding and devotion.
At Naimiṣāraṇya, the sages request Sūta to answer their questions because they regard him as deeply learned in the essence of scripture and thus qualified to narrate the Bhāgavatam’s spiritual conclusions.
Seek guidance from authentic, realized teachers; study with the aim of inner transformation and devotion; and prioritize understanding and practice over mere formalism or external ritual performance.