Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

Anūcāna (True Learning), the Vedāṅgas, and Śikṣā: Svara, Sāmavedic Chant, and Gandharva Theory

Devanagari script

सामवेदे तु वक्ष्यामि स्वराणां चरितं यथा । अल्पग्रंथं प्रभूतार्थं सामवेदांगमुत्तमम् ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

sāmavede tu vakṣyāmi svarāṇāṃ caritaṃ yathā | alpagraṃthaṃ prabhūtārthaṃ sāmavedāṃgamuttamam || 28 ||

Translation

Nun werde ich, mit Bezug auf das Sāmaveda, wahrheitsgemäß den Verlauf und das Wirken der Töne (svaras) darlegen—ein erhabenes Hilfsglied des Sāmaveda, kurz im Umfang und doch reich an Sinn.

Word by Word

• सामवेदे: in the Sāmaveda
• सामवेदे: अधिकरण (अधिकरणकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामवेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—साम + वेद (तत्पुरुष)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

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

• स्वराणाम्: of the notes/tones
• स्वराणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• चरितम्: the account/description
• चरितम्: कर्म (कर्मकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participial noun)

• यथा: as/how
• यथा: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-उपपद (adverb/conjunction)

• अल्पग्रन्थम्: of small size (brief)
• अल्पग्रन्थम्: विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प + ग्रन्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—अल्पः ग्रन्थः यस्य (कर्मधारय)

• प्रभूतार्थम्: rich in meaning
• प्रभूतार्थम्: विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभूत + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—प्रभूतः अर्थः यस्य (कर्मधारय)

• सामवेदाङ्गम्: the limb/auxiliary of the Sāmaveda
• सामवेदाङ्गम्: कर्म (कर्मकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामवेद + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—सामवेदस्य अङ्गम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• उत्तमम्: excellent/supreme
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Samaveda
• Svara

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that mastery of sacred sound—especially the Sāmavedic tonal system—can be taught in a concise yet profound way, emphasizing that correct sonic discipline is a meaningful aid to Vedic practice and inner purification.

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

While not naming bhakti directly, it supports devotional practice by stressing accurate tonal recitation; in the Purāṇic framework, properly voiced Vedic sound and hymnody become a refined medium for worship and concentrated remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Śikṣā (phonetics) and the Sāmavedic discipline of svara (pitch/intonation), implying that correct tones and their application are essential technical knowledge for authentic chanting.