Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

स्वरितेतस्त्रयश्चैतौ वदवची परिभाषिणौ । भ्वाद्या एते षडधिकं सहस्रं धातवो मताः ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

svaritetastrayaścaitau vadavacī paribhāṣiṇau | bhvādyā ete ṣaḍadhikaṃ sahasraṃ dhātavo matāḥ || 35 ||

Translation

Diese drei—Svara, Ita und Svarita—gelten als technische Bezeichnungen (paribhāṣā) im grammatischen Brauch. Beginnend mit der Bhvādi‑Klasse werden die dhātu (Verbalwurzeln) auf etwas über sechstausend geschätzt.

Word by Word

• स्वरितेतः: svarita-it (marked with svarita)
• स्वरितेतः: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वरित-इत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (स्वरित + इत), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन/वर्गनिर्देश; विशेषण

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• एतौ: these two
• एतौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन (Dual)

• वद: the root vad
• वद: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वद् (धातु/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: धातुनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वची: the root vac
• वची: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वच् (धातु; वची-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: धातुनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• परिभाषिणौ: used in metalinguistic definition/‘paribhāṣā’ sense
• परिभाषिणौ: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-भाषिन् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक from √भाष्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण (describing वद, वची)

• भ्वाद्याः: the (classes) beginning with bhū
• भ्वाद्याः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (भू + आदि), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• एते: these
• एते: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• षडधिकम्: six more (i.e., plus six)
• षडधिकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of implied ‘are’ with number)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट्-अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (षट् + अधिक), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• सहस्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-नाम

• धातवः: roots
• धातवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मताः: are considered
• मताः: क्रियापद (Predicate/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मत (कृदन्त; √मन् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘are considered’

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue framed around śāstra-knowledge; traditionally taught to/through the Sanatkumāra lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined śāstra-learning—especially correct linguistic and grammatical understanding—as a supportive limb for clarity of recitation, study, and ultimately steadiness on the mokṣa-oriented path.

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

Indirectly: by highlighting correct technical knowledge (accent and grammar), it safeguards accurate transmission of mantras and scriptural meanings, which strengthens sincere and error-free devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Śikṣā (accent—especially svarita) and Vedāṅga Vyākaraṇa (paribhāṣā-terms and the classification/numbering of dhātus beginning with the Bhvādi gaṇa).