Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

ऋषभः । चतुर्थः ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

ṛṣabhaḥ | caturthaḥ || 4 ||

Translation

„(Der Name ist) Ṛṣabha. (Er ist) der vierte.“

Word by Word

• ऋषभः: Ṛṣabha (the note ‘Ri’/a musical note-name)
• ऋषभः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• चतुर्थः: the fourth
• चतुर्थः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjectival)

Speaker

Narada (as an enumerator within the Moksha Dharma discourse, continuing a sequential listing)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Rishabha

FAQs

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

It preserves a precise traditional sequence: identifying Ṛṣabha by name and fixing his position as “the fourth,” which is important for remembering authoritative lineages/lists used in dharma and moksha teachings.

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

Indirectly: by naming a revered figure within an ordered list, it supports smaraṇa (devotional remembrance) and faithful transmission of sacred names—common tools that nourish bhakti practice in Purāṇic teaching.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa/lexical clarity is implicit: the verse is a compact nominative construction (“ṛṣabhaḥ… caturthaḥ”), showing how lists are encoded with minimal words for accurate memorization and recitation.