Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 61

Śuka’s Origin, Mastery of Śāstra, and Testing at Janaka’s Court

Devanagari script

सुविभक्तजलाक्रीडं रम्यं पुष्पितपादपम् । दर्शयित्वासने स्थाप्य राजानं च व्यजिज्ञपत् ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

suvibhaktajalākrīḍaṃ ramyaṃ puṣpitapādapam | darśayitvāsane sthāpya rājānaṃ ca vyajijñapat || 61 ||

Translation

เมื่อได้พาไปชมสถานที่อันรื่นรมย์ที่จัดการละเล่นทางน้ำไว้อย่างเป็นระเบียบและมีต้นไม้ดอกบานสะพรั่งแล้ว เขาเชิญพระราชาประทับบนพระที่นั่ง และกราบทูลด้วยความเคารพ

Word by Word

• सुविभक्त-जल-आक्रीडम्: a well-arranged water-pleasure-garden
• सुविभक्त-जल-आक्रीडम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + विभक्त (√भज् धातु, क्त) + जल (प्रातिपदिक) + आक्रीड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—(जलस्य आक्रीडम्) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष, तत्र 'सुविभक्त' इति विशेषणम् (well-arranged)

• रम्यम्: beautiful
• रम्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying the object)

• पुष्पित-पादपम्: having flowering trees
• पुष्पित-पादपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्पित (√पुष्प्/पुष्प् धातु, क्त) + पादप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—पुष्पिताः पादपाः यस्मिन्/यत्र तत् (flowering trees)

• दर्शयित्वा: having shown
• दर्शयित्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वक्रिया—‘having shown’

• आसने: on the seat
• आसने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• स्थाप्य: having placed (seated)
• स्थाप्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/तुमुन्-समकक्ष ‘स्थाप्य’ (absolutive/gerund-like), पूर्वक्रिया—‘having seated/placed’

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• व्यजिज्ञपत्: he informed/announced
• व्यजिज्ञपत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञप् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः ‘वि’ (intensive/causative nuance in form)

Speaker

Narrator (Suta-style narrative voice within the Purana’s story flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• King (rājā)

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic conduct preceding instruction: the king is first honored, seated, and received with proper hospitality, showing that right conduct and reverence form the foundation for receiving higher teaching.

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

Indirectly, it models bhakti’s mood of respectful service (sevā) and proper reception; devotion is strengthened when guidance is approached with humility, order, and reverence rather than haste.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No Vedanga technical doctrine is taught in this line; it reflects applied dharma and śiṣṭācāra (cultured etiquette) in a formal audience—preparatory discipline that supports learning and instruction.