Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

ऊदृदंतैर्यौति रुक्ष्णुशूङ्स्नुनुक्षुश्चिडीङ्श्रिभिः । वृङ्वृञ्भ्यां च विनैकाचोऽजंतेषु निहताः स्मृताः ॥ ७७ ॥

Transliteration

ūdṛdaṃtairyauti rukṣṇuśūṅsnunukṣuściḍīṅśribhiḥ | vṛṅvṛñbhyāṃ ca vinaikāco'jaṃteṣu nihatāḥ smṛtāḥ || 77 ||

Translation

Bei der durch ū-, dṛ- und dant- bezeichneten Operation und in Formen wie «yauti», ebenso bei den Wurzeln rukṣṇu, śūṅ, snunukṣu und mit den Markern ciḍ, īṅ und śri, ferner bei vṛṅ und vṛñ—außer dort, wo nur ein einziger Vokal (eka-ac) steht—sind in den nicht-ātmanepada-Endungen (a-jaṃta) die betreffenden Marker als „getilgt, unterdrückt“ zu verstehen.

Word by Word

• ūdṛdantaiḥ: by (the forms called) ūdṛdanta
• ūdṛdantaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ūdṛdanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yauti: goes / is used
• yauti: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धाातु √या)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• rukṣṇuśūṅsnunukṣuḥ: (the set:) rukṣṇu, śūṅ, snunukṣu
• rukṣṇuśūṅsnunukṣuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rukṣṇu + śūṅ + snunukṣu (प्रातिपदिक; सूची-शब्दसमूह)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); enumerative listing term

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• iḍīṅśribhiḥ: by (the items) iḍīṅ and śri
• iḍīṅśribhiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iḍīṅ + śri (प्रातिपदिक; सूची-शब्दसमूह)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); listing of items taken together

• vṛṅvṛñbhyām: by/with vṛṅ and vṛñ
• vṛṅvṛñbhyām: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṅ + vṛñ (प्रातिपदिक; धातुनाम-युग्म)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया) / Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Dual (द्विवचन); here instrumental sense with ca

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• vinā: without
• vinā: Apadana (अपादान/Separation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: Preposition/particle meaning 'without' (वियोगार्थक अव्यय)

• ekācaḥ: (those) with a single vowel
• ekācaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka + ac (प्रातिपदिक; 'one vowel')
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: eka-ac = having one vowel

• ajanteṣu: among ajanta (ending in a vowel) forms
• ajanteṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (usage as technical term), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nihatāḥ: are struck/removed (i.e., elided)
• nihatāḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-han (धातु √हन्)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त/कृत्), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• smṛtāḥ: are stated/considered
• smṛtāḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु √स्मृ)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); used as predicate 'are said/considered'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada technical dharma/vedanga knowledge)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Vedanga mastery—especially Vyakarana—as a support for dharma and moksha: correct linguistic form protects the intended meaning of mantra, scripture, and teaching.

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

Indirectly: Bhakti practices rely on accurate names, mantras, and recitations; this technical rule safeguards purity of utterance so devotion is expressed without distortion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyakarana: a sutra-like rule about when certain grammatical markers/augments are considered elided (nihata) under specified root/affix conditions, aiding correct derivation and recitation.