Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

एकादश पदाद्यास्तु ह्यात्मनेपदिनो मताः । राधोः कर्मक एवात्र वृद्धौ स्वादिचुरादिके ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

ekādaśa padādyāstu hyātmanepadino matāḥ | rādhoḥ karmaka evātra vṛddhau svādicurādike || 52 ||

Translation

Die ersten elf Verbformen, beginnend mit „pada“, gelten als Ātmanepada-Formen. In diesem Zusammenhang wird die Wurzel „rādha“ als transitiv (mit Objekt) behandelt, und diese Einordnung gilt in der verstärkten vṛddhi-Bildung innerhalb der Svādi- und Curādi-Gruppen.

Word by Word

• ekādaśa: eleven
• ekādaśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekādaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Saṅkhyā-vācaka (numeral/संख्यावाचक), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग) — agreeing with padādyāḥ

• padādyāḥ: those beginning with ‘pada’
• padādyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis/causal nuance

• ātmanepadinaḥ: Ātmanepada (middle-voice) verbs
• ātmanepadinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātmanepadin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• matāḥ: considered/held to be
• matāḥ: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (मुख्यविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: man (धातु) + ta (क्त, क्तप्रत्यय) → mata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• rādhoḥ: of the root ‘rādh’
• rādhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessive reference)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rādh (धातु)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); dhātu-nirdeśa in genitive (root-name reference)

• karmakaḥ: transitive (taking an object)
• karmakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: only/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), restriction/emphasis

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), deictic ‘here/in this context’

• vṛddhau: in vṛddhi (strengthened grade)
• vṛddhau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग)

• svādi-curādike: in the Svādi and Curādi (classes)
• svādi-curādike: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svādi + curādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); gaṇa-nirdeśa (class designation)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (instructing Narada in śāstra/technical knowledge as part of mokṣa-dharma teaching)

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 mokṣa-dharma is supported by śāstra-clarity: correct understanding of language (Vyākaraṇa) protects the intended meaning of teachings and mantras, preventing confusion in dharma and spiritual practice.

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

Indirectly: bhakti relies on accurately grasping names, hymns, and scriptural statements; this verse models disciplined study of Vedāṅga (grammar) so that devotion to Bhagavān is grounded in correct comprehension rather than misread words.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa: identification of Ātmanepada usage, transitivity (karmakatva), vowel-strengthening (vṛddhi), and gaṇa-grouping (Svādi/Curādi) for correct derivation and interpretation of Sanskrit verbal forms.