Shloka 4

Nārāyaṇasya Guhya-nāmāni Niruktāni (Etymologies of Nārāyaṇa’s Secret Epithets) / नारायणस्य गुह्यनामानि निरुक्तानि

Devanagari script

नारदस्य वच: श्रुत्वा शुक: प्रोवाच भारत | अस्मिल्लोके हितं यत्‌ स्यात्‌ तेन मां योक्तुमहसि

Transliteration

nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā śukaḥ provāca bhārata | asmin loke hitaṃ yat syāt tena māṃ yoktum arhasi bharatanandana ||

Translation

舒迦闻那罗陀之言，答曰：“噢，婆罗多啊，愿你垂教于我：此世真正有益之道——通向至上安乐与福祉之法。”

Word by Word

• नारदस्य: of Narada
• नारदस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• वचः: speech; words
• वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral), Non-finite

• शुकः: Shuka
• शुकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रोवाच: said; spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: लिट् (perfect), Past (perfect sense), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भारत: O Bharata (descendant of Bharata)
• भारत: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• हितम्: beneficial; welfare
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• यत्: which; whatever
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• स्यात्: may be; would be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), Potential/Optative, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तेन: by that; with that
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Accusative, Singular

• योक्तुम्: to yoke; to engage; to instruct/guide (here: to connect me with it)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज्
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral), Non-finite

• अर्हसि: you ought; you are fit (please)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: लट् (present), Present, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भरतनन्दन: O delight of Bharata (O descendant of Bharata)
• भरतनन्दन: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरतनन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Śuka (Śukadeva)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames the ethical aim of instruction as 'hita'—what truly benefits and leads to the highest welfare in worldly life. Śuka requests guidance not for mere knowledge, but for a path that is practically and spiritually salutary.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing Nārada speak, Śuka responds respectfully and asks to be guided toward the most beneficial course in this world, signaling a teacher–student exchange focused on dharma and ultimate well-being.