Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

प्राहाभिवाद्य च तदा श्रेयोऽर्थी विनयान्वितः । मोक्षधर्मेषु कुशलो भगवान् प्रब्रवीतु मे ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

prāhābhivādya ca tadā śreyo'rthī vinayānvitaḥ | mokṣadharmeṣu kuśalo bhagavān prabravītu me || 44 ||

Translation

Bấy giờ, sau khi cúi lạy cung kính, người cầu điều tối thượng, đầy đủ khiêm cung, thưa rằng: “Bạch Đấng Thế Tôn, bậc thiện xảo trong mokṣa-dharma, xin chỉ dạy cho con.”

Word by Word

• prāha: said
• prāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular, Perfect)

• abhivādya: having saluted
• abhivādya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhi-√vad > abhivādya (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund): ‘having saluted’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• śreyaḥ: the highest good
• śreyaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• arthī: desirous (of)
• arthī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); ‘इच्छुक’ (desirous)

• vinaya-anvitaḥ: endowed with humility
• vinaya-anvitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vinaya (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: ‘विनयेन अन्वितः’ (endowed with humility)

• mokṣa-dharmeṣu: in the doctrines of liberation
• mokṣa-dharmeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Locative, Plural); तत्पुरुष: ‘मोक्षस्य धर्माः’

• kuśalaḥ: skilled, proficient
• kuśalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• bhagavān: the venerable one, Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• prabravītu: may (he) tell/speak
• prabravītu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√brū (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular, Imperative: ‘let him speak’)

• me: to me
• me: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive/Dative Singular enclitic); here दत्त-सम्प्रदानार्थे (to me)

Speaker

Narada (as the humble seeker addressing Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It establishes the proper inner qualification for moksha-dharma: humility (vinaya) and a sincere desire for śreyas (the highest good), approached through respectful surrender to a realized teacher.

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

Though not naming bhakti directly, it models the devotional posture of a seeker—reverent salutation and prayerful request—through which higher teachings (often culminating in devotion to the Lord) are received.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is the discipline of guru-approach—respectful inquiry and humility—as the method for receiving moksha-oriented instruction.