Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 93

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

Devanagari script

नीलोत्पलं महाषष्टी तुल्यार्थे कर्मधारयः । अब्राह्मणो न ञि प्रोक्तः कुंभकारादिकः कृता ॥ ९३ ॥

Transliteration

nīlotpalaṃ mahāṣaṣṭī tulyārthe karmadhārayaḥ | abrāhmaṇo na ñi proktaḥ kuṃbhakārādikaḥ kṛtā || 93 ||

Translation

In Zusammensetzungen wie nīlotpala („blauer Lotus“) wird die Beziehung als „großer Genitiv“ (mahā-ṣaṣṭhī) aufgefasst; und wenn der Sinn der Gleichheit bzw. Ähnlichkeit (tulya-artha) ist, handelt es sich um ein karmadhāraya-Kompositum. Ferner wird das taddhita-Affix Ñi nicht nach „a-brāhmaṇa“ (Nicht-Brahmane) gelehrt; während Formen wie kumbhakāra („Töpfer“) und dergleichen als bereits feststehende Ableitungen gelten.

Word by Word

• नीलोत्पलम्: (the compound) “blue-lotus”
• नीलोत्पलम्: Udāharaṇa/Viṣaya (विषयः/उदाहरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील + उत्पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः)

• महाषष्टी: (the compound) “great sixth (case)”
• महाषष्टी: Udāharaṇa/Viṣaya (विषयः/उदाहरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + षष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• तुल्य-अर्थे: in an equivalent sense
• तुल्य-अर्थे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (अर्थे = ‘in the sense/meaning’)

• कर्मधारयः: (it) is a karmadhāraya (compound)
• कर्मधारयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मधारय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अ-ब्राह्मणः: non-Brahmin
• अ-ब्राह्मणः: Udāharaṇa/Viṣaya (विषयः/उदाहरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + अ- (नञ्-प्रत्ययार्थः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थः (negation)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negative particle)

• ञि: the marker “ñi” (for nañ)
• ञि: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ञि (अव्यय/प्रत्याहार-शब्दः)
• Form: व्याकरण-परिभाषिक-अव्यय; ‘ञि’ इति नञ्-प्रत्ययस्य निर्देशः (technical marker)

• प्रोक्तः: is said/declared
• प्रोक्तः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• कुम्भकार-आदिकः: potter and the like
• कुम्भकार-आदिकः: Udāharaṇa/Viṣaya (विषयः/उदाहरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भकार + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (आदि-समास: ‘and the like’)

• कृता: (is) made/formed
• कृता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle, क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (पाठानुसारम्)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vyakarana-focused section)

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 places Vyākaraṇa (grammar) among the practical aids to dharma and mokṣa by clarifying correct speech and meaning—showing that disciplined language (śabda-śuddhi) supports disciplined understanding (artha-śuddhi).

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

Indirectly: bhakti relies on accurate recitation and comprehension of divine names and scriptures; this verse contributes by preserving precise grammatical meaning so mantra and śāstra are understood and transmitted correctly.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa (a Vedāṅga): it highlights rules about samāsa classification (karmadhāraya) and taddhita-suffix application (Ñi), using standard examples like nīlotpala and kumbhakāra.