Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

शिक्षामाहुर्द्विजातीनामृग्यजुः सामलक्षणम् । सप्त स्वरास्रयो ग्रामा मृर्छनास्त्वेकविंशतिः ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

śikṣāmāhurdvijātīnāmṛgyajuḥ sāmalakṣaṇam | sapta svarāsrayo grāmā mṛrchanāstvekaviṃśatiḥ || 30 ||

Translation

Man erklärt, dass Śikṣā (die Laut- und Aussprachenkunde) für die Zweimalgeborenen das kennzeichnende Wissen der Ṛg-, Yajus- und Sāman-Überlieferung sei. Sie gründet auf sieben Tönen (svaras); der grāmas sind sieben, und der mūrcchanās einundzwanzig.

Word by Word

• शिक्षाम्: phonetics/śikṣā
• शिक्षाम्: कर्म (कर्मकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आहुः: they say/call
• आहुः: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु; ‘आह’ परस्मै)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्विजातीनाम्: of the twice-born (Brāhmaṇa etc.)
• द्विजातीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वि + जाति (द्विगु/तत्पुरुष)

• ऋग्यजुः: Ṛg and Yajus (Vedas)
• ऋग्यजुः: सम्बन्ध/विशेष्य (qualifier of ‘सामलक्षणम्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋक् + यजुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्व); ‘ऋग्-यजुः’

• सामलक्षणम्: the characteristic of the Sāma (Veda)
• सामलक्षणम्: कर्म/विधेय (object/predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साम + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—साम्नः लक्षणम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: विशेषण (ग्रामा-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या; अव्ययवत्)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; बहुवचनार्थे विशेषण (indeclinable numeral used adjectivally)

• स्वराश्रयः: having notes as their basis
• स्वराश्रयः: विशेषण (ग्रामा-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—स्वराणाम् आश्रयः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• ग्रामाः: grāmas (scale-systems)
• ग्रामाः: कर्ता (कर्ता/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मूर्च्छनाः: mūrcchanās (modal sequences)
• मूर्च्छनाः: कर्ता (समुच्चित-कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्च्छना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• एकविंशतिः: twenty-one
• एकविंशतिः: विधेय (predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकविंशति (प्रातिपदिक; संख्या)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—एक + विंशति (द्विगु)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that precise sound—correct phonetics and tonal recitation—is itself a sacred discipline, protecting the integrity and efficacy of Vedic mantras.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports devotional practice by stressing accurate mantra and sāman chanting—key supports for worship, praise, and remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā Vedāṅga: the technical system of pronunciation and tonal notes (svara), including structured scale frameworks (grāma) and melodic sequences (mūrcchanā) used especially in Sāmavedic chanting.