Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

The Exposition of the Index (Anukramaṇī) of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata

Devanagari script

वक्तुः श्रोतुश्चोपदेष्टुरनुमोदितुरेव च । साहाय्यकर्तुर्गदितं भक्तिभुक्तिविमुक्तिदम् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

vaktuḥ śrotuścopadeṣṭuranumoditureva ca | sāhāyyakarturgaditaṃ bhaktibhuktivimuktidam || 22 ||

Translation

经中宣示：此圣教能赐予说者、听者、教导者、赞同者，乃至协助传承者以奉爱（bhakti）、世间福乐与解脱。

Word by Word

• वक्तुः: of the speaker
• वक्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• श्रोतुः: of the listener
• श्रोतुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• उपदेष्टुः: of the instructor
• उपदेष्टुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपदेष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अनुमोदितुः: of the approver/one who assents
• अनुमोदितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुमोदितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — अवधारण/निश्चयार्थक (particle: ‘just/indeed’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• साहाय्यकर्तुः: of the helper
• साहाय्यकर्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साहाय्य + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Genitive, Singular; समासः: तत्पुरुष (साहाय्य-कर्तृ = ‘one who renders assistance’)

• गदितम्: is spoken/said
• गदितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गदित (कृदन्त, √गद् धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Past passive participle, Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; (अर्थः: ‘is spoken/has been said’)

• भक्ति: devotion
• भक्ति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक — ‘devotion’ (समासपूर्वपद)

• भुक्ति: enjoyment/prosperity
• भुक्ति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक — ‘enjoyment/worldly prosperity’ (समासपूर्वपद)

• विमुक्ति: liberation
• विमुक्ति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक — ‘liberation’ (समासपूर्वपद)

• दम्: giver (of)
• दम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द (कृदन्त, √दा धातु; द-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (द-प्रत्यय, ‘द’ = ‘giving’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Kridanta ‘-da’ (giver), Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; समासः: तत्पुरुष (भक्ति-भुक्ति-विमुक्ति-दम् = ‘giver of devotion, enjoyment, and liberation’)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Anukramanika-style section of Book 1.4)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

The verse functions as a phala-śruti, affirming that merit accrues not only to the reciter but to everyone who participates in preserving and transmitting the teaching—culminating in bhakti and ultimately liberation.

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

By valuing speaking, hearing, teaching, approving, and assisting, it highlights bhakti as a communal and participatory practice centered on śravaṇa (hearing) and kīrtana/pravacana (recitation and instruction), which ripens into devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes the disciplined transmission of scripture—pravacana (teaching) and śravaṇa (listening)—which aligns with Vedāṅga concerns like correct recitation and instruction (especially Śikṣā and Vyākaraṇa as supports for accurate oral preservation).