Shloka 2

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

वेदोपनिषदां वेत्ता ऋषि: सुरगणार्चित: । इतिहासपुराणज्ञ: पुराकल्पविशेषवित्‌

Transliteration

vedopaniṣadāṁ vettā ṛṣiḥ suragaṇārcitaḥ | itihāsapurāṇajñaḥ purākalpaviśeṣavit ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Ngài là một bậc hiền triết tinh thông Veda và Upaniṣad, được chư thiên tôn kính; lại am tường Itihāsa và Purāṇa, và thấu suốt những ghi chép đặc thù của thời cổ đại—được khắc họa như một bậc thẩm quyền mẫu mực, lời nói mang trọng lượng đạo lý và kinh điển.

Word by Word

• वेदोपनिषदाम्: of the Vedas and Upaniṣads
• वेदोपनिषदाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदोपनिषद्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• वेत्ता: knower
• वेत्ता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेतृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ऋषिः: sage
• ऋषिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुरगणार्चितः: honored by hosts of gods
• सुरगणार्चितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरगण-अर्चित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इतिहासपुराणज्ञः: knowing the Itihāsa and Purāṇa
• इतिहासपुराणज्ञः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इतिहासपुराण-ज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुराकल्पविशेषवित्: knower of the particularities of ancient cycles/ages
• पुराकल्पविशेषवित्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुराकल्पविशेष-वित्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• ṛṣi (sage)
• suragaṇa (hosts of gods)
• Vedas
• Upaniṣads
• Itihāsa
• Purāṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse establishes the credibility of a speaker/figure by listing traditional markers of authority: mastery of śruti (Veda–Upaniṣad), reverence even among divine beings, and competence in itihāsa–purāṇa and ancient accounts. Ethically, it implies that guidance on dharma should be grounded in disciplined learning and trustworthy tradition.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing a revered sage/authority figure, emphasizing his scriptural mastery and honored status. This functions as a narrative credentialing, preparing the listener to accept ensuing counsel or events as reliably transmitted and dharmically informed.