Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

यथार्थकथनं यञ्च धर्माधर्मविवेकतः । सत्यं प्राहुर्मुनिश्रेष्ट अस्तेयं श्रृणु साम्प्रतम् ॥ ७७ ॥

Transliteration

yathārthakathanaṃ yañca dharmādharmavivekataḥ | satyaṃ prāhurmuniśreṣṭa asteyaṃ śrṛṇu sāmpratam || 77 ||

Translation

اے مونیوں میں برتر! دھرم اور اَدھرم کے امتیاز کے ساتھ جو بات حقیقت کے مطابق کہی جائے، اسے ‘ستیہ’ کہتے ہیں۔ اب ‘استیہ’ کی تعلیم سنو۔

Word by Word

• यथार्थकथनम्: speaking the truth as it is
• यथार्थकथनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यथार्थ + कथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी/कर्मधारयभावः—‘यथार्थस्य कथनम्’ (speaking what is as it is)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता/Relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

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

• धर्माधर्मविवेकतः: from discernment of right and wrong
• धर्माधर्मविवेकतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धर्म + अधर्म + विवेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’; समासः—धर्माधर्मयोः विवेकः (distinguishing dharma and adharma)

• सत्यम्: truthfulness
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्राहुः: they call/declare
• प्राहुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुनिश्रेष्ट: O best of sages
• मुनिश्रेष्ट: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनाम् श्रेष्ठः)

• अस्तेयम्: non-stealing
• अस्तेयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्तेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शृणु: hear/listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• साम्प्रतम्: now/at present
• साम्प्रतम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साम्प्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It defines satya as truthful speech rooted in dharma-adharma discernment, showing that spiritual life requires ethical clarity, not merely factual speech.

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

Bhakti is strengthened by inner purity; the verse frames truthfulness as dharmic discrimination, a necessary discipline that supports sincere devotion and prevents harm through speech.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights viveka (discriminative judgment) applied to conduct; while not a direct Vedanga lesson, it aligns with dharma-based interpretation used in Smriti and ethical application of scriptural guidance.