Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

Devanagari script

सनक उवाच । वेदग्रहणपर्यंतं शुश्रूषानियतो गुरोः । अनुज्ञातस्ततस्तेन कुर्यादग्निपरिग्रहम् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

sanaka uvāca | vedagrahaṇaparyaṃtaṃ śuśrūṣāniyato guroḥ | anujñātastatastena kuryādagniparigraham || 1 ||

Translation

Sanaka nói: Cho đến khi hoàn tất việc thọ học Veda, người học phải giữ kỷ luật và chuyên cần phụng sự thầy. Rồi, khi được thầy cho phép, hãy tiếp nhận và thiết lập các ngọn lửa tế tự thiêng (Agni).

Word by Word

• sanakaḥ: Sanaka
• sanakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्) (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• veda-grahaṇa-paryantam: until the completion of Veda-learning
• veda-grahaṇa-paryantam: Kāla/Avadhi (काल/अवधि/Limit)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + grahaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + paryanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially; accusative-form ending but functioning as indeclinable meaning ‘up to the completion of Veda-reception/study’

• śuśrūṣā-niyataḥ: disciplined in service
• śuśrūṣā-niyataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuśrūṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + niyata (कृदन्त; √yam/यम् + नित) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘disciplined/engaged in service’ (तत्पुरुष: śuśrūṣāyāṃ niyataḥ)

• guroḥ: of the teacher
• guroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• anujñātaḥ: having been permitted
• anujñātaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-√jñā (ज्ञा) + kta (क्त) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; past passive participle ‘permitted/authorized’

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb ‘then’

• tena: by him/thereby
• tena: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु/Means or agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; pronoun

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• agni-parigraham: the taking up of the sacred fires
• agni-parigraham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + parigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of kuryāt

Speaker

Sanaka

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Sanaka
• Guru
• Veda
• Agni

FAQs

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

It establishes the dharmic sequence: humility and disciplined service to the guru during Vedic training, followed by entering ritual responsibility only after the guru’s authorization—showing that authority and readiness, not mere desire, qualify one for sacred rites.

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

While framed as Vedic discipline, it supports bhakti through obedience, reverence, and surrender to the guru’s instruction—traits that Narada Purana repeatedly treats as foundations for steady devotion and righteous living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) and śrauta-smārta practice: after completing Vedic learning, one formally establishes the sacred fires (agni-parigraha) required for daily and occasional rites such as agnihotra and household yajñas.