Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

Varṇāśrama Saṁskāras, Upanayana Windows, Brahmacārin Ācāra, and Anadhyāya Prohibitions

Devanagari script

सनक उवाच । वर्णाश्रमाचारविधिं प्रवक्ष्यामि विशेषतः । श्रृणुष्व तन्मुनिश्रेष्ट सावधानेन चेतसा ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

sanaka uvāca | varṇāśramācāravidhiṃ pravakṣyāmi viśeṣataḥ | śrṛṇuṣva tanmuniśreṣṭa sāvadhānena cetasā || 1 ||

Translation

萨那迦说道：“我将详说诸种姓（varṇa）与诸住期（āśrama）所当遵行之行仪法则。故而，噢，牟尼中之最胜者，请以专注之心谛听。”

Word by Word

• सनकः: Sanaka
• सनकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वर्ण-आश्रम-आचार-विधिम्: the rule/procedure of conduct for varṇa and āśrama
• वर्ण-आश्रम-आचार-विधिम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः: वर्णाश्रमयोः आचारः (genitive) + तस्य विधिः → वर्णाश्रमाचारविधिः; द्वितीया एकवचन

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विशेषतः: in detail, especially
• विशेषतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्या/प्रकारेण-अव्यय (adverb: in detail/specially)

• शृणुष्व: listen
• शृणुष्व: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• तत्: that (teaching)
• तत्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (demonstrative), कर्म (object of शृणुष्व)

• मुनि-श्रेष्ठ: O best of sages
• मुनि-श्रेष्ठ: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मुनीनाम् श्रेष्ठः)

• सावधानेन: with attention
• सावधानेन: करण (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सावधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; भावे (as manner: attentively)

• चेतसा: with (your) mind
• चेतसा: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanaka

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Sanaka

FAQs

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

It formally introduces a dharma-teaching section: correct varṇāśrama conduct is presented as a structured foundation for inner purification and steady progress toward liberation.

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

By insisting on attentive listening and disciplined conduct, the verse sets the prerequisite mood for bhakti—śravaṇa (hearing) and regulated living that supports sustained remembrance and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The emphasis is on ācāra-vidhi (normative injunctions) aligned with dharma-śāstra style instruction—practical rule-based guidance for life-stages and duties rather than a specific Vedāṅga like Jyotiṣa or Vyākaraṇa.