Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 96

Sṛṣṭi-pralaya-kathana: Mahābhūta-guṇāḥ, Vṛkṣa-indriya-vādaḥ, Prāṇa-vāyu-vyavasthā

Devanagari script

आकाशजं शब्दमाहुरेभिर्वायुगुणैः सह । अव्याहतैश्चेतयते नवेति विषमा गतिः ॥ ९६ ॥

Transliteration

ākāśajaṃ śabdamāhurebhirvāyuguṇaiḥ saha | avyāhataiścetayate naveti viṣamā gatiḥ || 96 ||

Translation

يُعلِنون أنَّ الصوتَ مولودٌ من الأثير (ākāśa)، مع هذه الصفات التابعة للهواء. فإذا كان غيرَ معاقٍ صار مُدرَكًا؛ غير أنّه لا يسير على وتيرةٍ واحدة—فحركته غير منتظمة.

Word by Word

• आकाश-जम्: ether-born
• आकाश-जम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘आकाशात् जातम्’ (born from ether)

• शब्दम्: sound
• शब्दम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• आहुः: they say
• आहुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/आह् (धातु) → आहुः
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• एभिः: by these
• एभिः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• वायु-गुणैः: with/by the qualities of air
• वायु-गुणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘वायोः गुणैः’

• सह: together with
• सह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/सह-योग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक उपपद (postposition: with)

• अव्याहतैः: unobstructed
• अव्याहतैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + व्याहत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (unobstructed)

• चेतयते: perceives/knows
• चेतयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चित् (धातु) → चेतयते
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणसूचक (thus)

• विषमा: uneven/irregular
• विषमा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (गतेः)

• गतिः: movement/course
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Akasha
• Vayu
• Shabda

FAQs

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

It points the seeker toward discrimination (viveka): sensory objects like sound arise from subtle elements and are perceived only under conditions, so they are not absolute—supporting detachment and moksha-oriented insight.

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

By showing that ordinary sound is conditional and unstable, it implicitly elevates steadier spiritual practice—such as hearing and chanting the Lord’s names (śravaṇa–kīrtana)—as a more reliable focus for the mind.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics) is indirectly relevant: sound (śabda) depends on medium and obstruction, which aligns with Vedic attention to correct articulation, resonance, and transmission conditions in recitation.