Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Śuka’s Yoga-ascent, the Echo of ‘Bhoḥ’, and the Vaikuṇṭha Vision

Devanagari script

ततः प्रभृति वाऽद्यापि शब्दानुञ्चारितान्पृथक् । गिरिगह्वरपृष्टेषु व्याजहार शुकं प्रति ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ prabhṛti vā'dyāpi śabdānuñcāritānpṛthak | girigahvarapṛṣṭeṣu vyājahāra śukaṃ prati || 31 ||

Translation

นับแต่นั้นจนถึงวันนี้ ถ้อยคำที่เปล่งอย่างชัดเจนยังสะท้อนแยกเป็นเสียงก้องไปตามผนังถ้ำและหุบผาแห่งภูเขา ราวกับกล่าวกับศูกะอยู่เสมอ

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter/from then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb): 'from that/thereafter'

• प्रभृति: from (that time) onward
• प्रभृति: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रभृति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), कालवाचक (temporal adverb): 'beginning from'

• वा: or/indeed
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• अद्यापि: even today/still
• अद्यापि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), कालवाचक (temporal): 'even today/still now'

• शब्दान्: sounds/words
• शब्दान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अनुच्चारितान्: uttered/recited
• अनुच्चारितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु + √चर् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; 'that have been uttered/recited'

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Prakara (प्रकार/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): 'separately/distinctly'

• गिरि-गह्वर-पृष्टेषु: on the surfaces of mountain-caves
• गिरि-गह्वर-पृष्टेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + गह्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): 'on the backs/surfaces of mountain-caves'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) 'पृष्ठ', सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), बहुवचन

• व्याजहार: spoke/uttered
• व्याजहार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + आ + √हृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; 'he spoke/uttered'

• शुकम्: to Śuka (Śukadeva)
• शुकम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रति: towards/to
• प्रति: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), उपपद-निपात (postposition): 'towards/to' (governs accusative)

Speaker

Narrator (Suta-style narration within the Purana’s dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Shuka

FAQs

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

It uses the image of an echo to show how spoken truth and sacred sound (śabda) can endure beyond the moment—suggesting that teachings given in purity continue to reverberate in the world and in memory, pointing seekers again toward mokṣa.

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

By highlighting the persistence of uttered words, it supports bhakti practices like nāma-japa and śravaṇa: the Lord’s names and saintly instructions, once voiced and heard, keep returning to the mind—strengthening loving remembrance and steady devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse implicitly points to Śikṣā (phonetics) and correct articulation: sounds are said to be repeated “distinctly” (pṛthak), underscoring that precise pronunciation of mantras and sacred recitation preserves meaning and efficacy.