Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

Vyākaraṇa-saṅgraha: Pada–Vibhakti–Kāraka–Lakāra–Samāsa

Devanagari script

संबोधने च लिंगादावुक्ते कर्मणि कर्तरि । अर्थवत्प्रातिपदिकं धातुप्रत्ययवर्जितम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

saṃbodhane ca liṃgādāvukte karmaṇi kartari | arthavatprātipadikaṃ dhātupratyayavarjitam || 3 ||

Translation

الأساسُ الاسميُّ ذو المعنى (prātipadika) هو ما يُستعمل في النداء (المُنادى) وتُظهَر فيه دلالةُ الجنس ونحوُه؛ ويُستعمل للدلالة على المفعول (karman) أو الفاعل (kartṛ)، وهو منزَّهٌ عن جذور الأفعال ولواحق الإعراب.

Word by Word

• संबोधने: in vocative address (context of संबोधन)
• संबोधने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संबोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण-निर्देश (locative of domain)

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

• लिङ्ग-आदौ: in (the matter of) gender etc.
• लिङ्ग-आदौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (आदि-शब्दः ‘beginning’), ‘लिङ्गादि’ = gender etc.; अधिकरण-निर्देश

• उक्ते: when stated/mentioned
• उक्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), प्रथमा/सप्तमी? नपुंसक/पुं/स्त्री—सन्दर्भानुसार; here: सप्तमी एकवचन नपुंसक/पुं (locative absolute sense) ‘when stated/when mentioned’

• कर्मणि: in the object-function (karma)
• कर्मणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in the कर्म-case/usage)

• कर्तरि: in the agent (karta)
• कर्तरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in the agent-function)

• अर्थवत्-प्रातिपदिकम्: a meaningful nominal base (prātipadika)
• अर्थवत्-प्रातिपदिकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रातिपदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘अर्थवत्’ विशेषणम्)

• धातु-प्रत्यय-वर्जितम्: devoid of verbal roots and affixes
• धातु-प्रत्यय-वर्जितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रत्यय (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘धातु-प्रत्यययोः वर्जितम्’ = devoid of roots and affixes); भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) from √वर्ज्/वृज् ‘to exclude’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Vedāṅga/Vyākaraṇa context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It grounds spiritual study in precision: by defining prātipadika, the text highlights that correct understanding of words is essential for accurate śāstra-reading, mantra meaning, and dharma practice that supports mokṣa.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti by insisting on correct language-knowledge: devotion expressed through names, praises, and vocatives becomes clearer and more faithful to intended meaning when grammar is understood.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Vyākaraṇa: it gives a technical definition of prātipadika (nominal stem)—a meaningful base associated with gender etc., used regarding agent/object, and distinguished from roots and suffixes.