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Shloka 20

The Appearance of Śrī Nārada and Vyāsa’s Dissatisfaction

Veda-vibhāga and the Need for Bhakti

ऋग्यजु:सामाथर्वाख्या वेदाश्चत्वार उद्‍धृता: । इतिहासपुराणं च पञ्चमो वेद उच्यते ॥ २० ॥

ṛg-yajuḥ-sāmātharvākhyā vedāś catvāra uddhṛtāḥ itihāsa-purāṇaṁ ca pañcamo veda ucyate

พระเวททั้งสี่คือ ฤค ยชุ สาม และอถรรพ ถูกแยกเป็นหมวดหมู่ต่างหาก ส่วนประวัติศักดิ์สิทธิ์และเรื่องราวอันแท้จริงในปุราณะ เรียกว่า “เวทที่ห้า”

ṛkṚg (Rigveda)
ṛk:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeNoun
Rootṛc (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Stem-form used in compound (समासपूर्वपद)
yajuḥYajus (Yajurveda)
yajuḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeNoun
Rootyajus (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Stem-form used in compound (समासपूर्वपद)
sāmaSāma (Samaveda)
sāma:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeNoun
Rootsāman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Stem-form used in compound (समासपूर्वपद)
atharva-ākhyāḥcalled Atharva
atharva-ākhyāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootatharvan (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘atharva-named’ (अथर्व-आख्या)
vedāḥVedas
vedāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootveda (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन)
catvāraḥfour
catvāraḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootcatvāra (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन); numeral adjective
uddhṛtāḥwere extracted/compiled
uddhṛtāḥ:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa / Predicative (क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय)
TypeVerb
Rootud-√hṛ (धातु)
FormPast passive participle (कृत्: क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन); passive sense
itihāsa-purāṇamItihāsa and Purāṇa
itihāsa-purāṇam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootitihāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); dvandva treated as neuter singular (इतिहासपुराणम्)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)
pañcamaḥthe fifth
pañcamaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpañcama (प्रातिपदिक/क्रमवाचक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); ordinal adjective
vedaḥVeda
vedaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootveda (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)
ucyateis called
ucyate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√vac (धातु)
FormPresent tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन)
V
Vyāsadeva

FAQs

This verse states that along with the four Vedas, the Itihāsas and Purāṇas are regarded as the “fifth Veda,” affirming their scriptural authority and Vedic status.

Sūta establishes the credibility of Purāṇic narration by linking it to Vedic revelation—showing that histories and Purāṇas are a recognized, authoritative channel for transmitting dharma and devotion.

It encourages seekers to study accessible Vedic wisdom through Purāṇic teachings—using narratives and theology to cultivate faith, ethics, and bhakti in daily life.