Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

Janaka Instructs Śuka: Āśrama-Sequence, Guru-Dependence, and Marks of Liberation

Devanagari script

सोऽहं पितुर्नियोगात्त्वा मुपप्रष्टुमिहागतः । तन्मे धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ट यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

so'haṃ piturniyogāttvā mupapraṣṭumihāgataḥ | tanme dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭa yathāvadvaktumarhasi || 9 ||

Translation

ด้วยบัญชาของบิดา ข้าพเจ้าจึงมาที่นี่เพื่อทูลถามท่าน ดังนั้น โอ้ผู้ประเสริฐยิ่งในหมู่ผู้ทรงธรรม โปรดกล่าวแก่ข้าพเจ้าให้ถูกต้องและเป็นลำดับเถิด

Word by Word

• सः: he/that (one)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उभयलिङ्ग-प्रयोग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पितुः: of (my) father
• पितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• नियोगात्: from/owing to the command
• नियोगात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान-भाव (source/cause)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उभयलिङ्ग-प्रयोग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उपप्रष्टुम्: to ask/inquire
• उपप्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थ (purpose)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• आगतः: (having) come
• आगतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्: that (matter)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मे: to me / for me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचन रूप (genitive/dative enclitic)

• धर्मभृताम्: of the upholders of dharma
• धर्मभृताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म-भृत् (प्रातिपदिक; भृत् = धातु √भृ ‘to bear’)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष समास; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• श्रेष्ठ: O best (one)
• श्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• यथावत्: properly, as it should be
• यथावत्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (manner adverb)

• वक्तुम्: to speak/tell
• वक्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• अर्हसि: you ought/are fit (to)
• अर्हसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue, addressing a senior Dharma-knower—commonly Sanatkumara in this section’s dialogue flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Father (pituḥ)
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It establishes the proper foundation for moksha-dharma teaching: humble inquiry, legitimate authorization (a senior’s command), and approaching the foremost upholder of dharma to receive accurate instruction.

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

Bhakti begins with śraddhā and surrender to guidance—here shown as respectful approach to a realized teacher and a request for “yathāvat” (true, orderly) teaching, which later supports disciplined devotion and right practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights the discipline of proper inquiry and transmission (upadeśa-paramparā): asking in the right manner and receiving precise instruction—an essential prerequisite for applying śāstra correctly (including grammar/interpretation and ritual procedure when relevant).