Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

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

Devanagari script

धातुस्तयोर्द्धर्मिभेदे सकर्मक उदाहृतः । गौणे कर्मणि द्रुह्यादेः प्रधाने नीहृकृष्वहाम् ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

dhātustayorddharmibhede sakarmaka udāhṛtaḥ | gauṇe karmaṇi druhyādeḥ pradhāne nīhṛkṛṣvahām || 86 ||

Translation

Wenn zwischen beiden (Agens und Objekt) ein Unterschied ihrer Rollen (dharmī-bheda) besteht, wird die Verbalwurzel als transitiv (sakarmaka) gelehrt. Ist das Objekt nur nebensächlich, nennt man Wurzeln wie druh (schädigen) und dergleichen; ist das Objekt vorrangig, nennt man nī (führen), hṛ (wegtragen), kṛṣ (ziehen/schleppen), vah (tragen/befördern) und hā (verlassen).

Word by Word

• dhātuḥ: a verbal root
• dhātuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhātu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

• tayoḥ: of those two
• tayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive); द्विवचन

• dharmi-bhede: in the difference of substratum/subject (dharmī)
• dharmi-bhede: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharmi (प्रातिपदिक) + bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: धर्मिन् + भेद); पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

• sakarmakaḥ: (is) transitive
• sakarmakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-karmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (उपपद-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

• udāhṛtaḥ: is stated/illustrated
• udāhṛtaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-ā-√hṛ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

• gauṇe: in the secondary (figurative)
• gauṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gauṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्तिः; एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying karmaṇi)

• karmaṇi: in the object (karma)
• karmaṇi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

• druhyādeḥ: of (roots) beginning with druhy- (e.g., √druh etc.)
• druhyādeḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: druhya-ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (अव्ययीभाव/समाहार-भाव: आदि-शब्देन समूहो; practically 'X-ādi'); पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

• pradhāne: in the primary (sense)
• pradhāne: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्तिः; एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying implied karmaṇi/viṣaye)

• nīhṛ-kṛṣ-vahām: of (roots) nīhṛ, kṛṣ, and vah (etc.)
• nīhṛ-kṛṣ-vahām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nī-√hṛ (धातु) + √kṛṣ (धातु) + √vah (धातु)
• Form: समासः—द्वन्द्व (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व; list of roots); पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्तिः; बहुवचन (Vedic/grammatical listing style; treated as genitive plural)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada; Vyakarana/Vedanga instruction context)

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 frames sacred learning (Vedanga–Vyakarana) as disciplined discernment: understanding how action, agency, and object relate sharpens clarity in recitation, study, and right knowledge that supports Moksha-oriented practice.

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

Indirectly: precise grammar safeguards correct mantra and scripture transmission; accurate śabda (sound/word) supports steady śraddhā and right understanding, which strengthens Vishnu-centered devotion through error-free study and chanting.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyakarana: the criterion for calling a dhātu sakarmaka (transitive) based on kartṛ–karma role distinction, and the practical distinction between gauṇa (secondary) and pradhāna (primary) object with standard dhātu examples.