Shloka 21

Nārada’s Darśana of Viśvarūpa Nārāyaṇa and the Caturmūrti Doctrine (नारदस्य नारायणदर्शनं चतुर्मूर्तिविचारश्च)

Devanagari script

एतद्‌ भवन्तं पृच्छामि तद्‌ भवान्‌ वक्तुम्हति । यथा वेदार्थततच्त्वेन ब्रूहि मे त्वं जनाधिप

Transliteration

etad bhavantaṁ pṛcchāmi tad bhavān vaktum arhati | yathā vedārtha-tattvena brūhi me tvaṁ janādhipa, nareśvara ||

Translation

“此事我请问于您，您实堪作答。人民之主、人中王者啊，请依吠陀真实之旨与根本之理，告诉我：究竟何者才是应当正当而行之事？”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'etad', 'gloss': 'this (matter), this question'}, {'term': 'bhavantam / bhavān', 'gloss': 'you (honorific), revered sir'}, {'term': 'pṛcchāmi', 'gloss': 'I ask, I inquire'}, {'term': 'vaktum arhati', 'gloss': 'is worthy/fit to speak

• ought to explain'}, {'term': 'yathā', 'gloss': 'as, in the manner that

• according to'}, {'term': 'veda', 'gloss': 'the Veda

• sacred revelation/authoritative scripture'}, {'term': 'artha', 'gloss': 'meaning, purport'}, {'term': 'tattvena', 'gloss': 'in truth

• according to the real principle/essence'}, {'term': 'brūhi', 'gloss': 'tell (me), speak'}, {'term': 'me', 'gloss': 'to me'}, {'term': 'janādhipa', 'gloss': 'lord of people

• ruler, king'}, {'term': 'nareśvara', 'gloss': 'lord of men

Speaker

शुक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śuka
• janādhipa (a king/ruler addressed)
• nareśvara (a king/ruler addressed)
• Veda

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames dharma as something to be determined by the Veda’s true purport (vedārtha-tattva), not merely by surface readings or personal preference; it emphasizes humble inquiry and authoritative instruction in deciding what is proper to do.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śuka, as the speaker, respectfully questions a ruler addressed as janādhipa/nareśvara, requesting a clear explanation of the correct course of action grounded in the authentic meaning of the Veda.