Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

Anūcāna (True Learning), the Vedāṅgas, and Śikṣā: Svara, Sāmavedic Chant, and Gandharva Theory

Devanagari script

पद्मपत्रप्रभः षङ्ज ऋषभः शुकपिंजरः । कनकाभस्तु गांधारो मध्यमः कुंदसन्निभः ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

padmapatraprabhaḥ ṣaṅja ṛṣabhaḥ śukapiṃjaraḥ | kanakābhastu gāṃdhāro madhyamaḥ kuṃdasannibhaḥ || 47 ||

Translation

Ṣaḍja shines like a lotus petal; Ṛṣabha is tawny like a parrot; Gāndhāra gleams golden; and Madhyama is white like the pure kunda blossom.

Word by Word

• पद्मपत्रप्रभः: having the sheen of a lotus-leaf
• पद्मपत्रप्रभः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्मपत्र-प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक; पद्म + पत्र + प्रभ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—पद्मपत्रस्य प्रभा यस्य (having the luster of a lotus-leaf)

• षङ्जः: Ṣaḍja (the note Sa)
• षङ्जः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षड्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ऋषभः: Ṛṣabha (the note Ṛ)
• ऋषभः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शुकपिंजरः: tawny like a parrot
• शुकपिंजरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक-पिञ्जर (प्रातिपदिक; शुक + पिञ्जर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—शुक इव पिञ्जरः (parrot-like tawny)

• कनकाभः: golden in appearance
• कनकाभः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कनक-आभ (प्रातिपदिक; कनक + आभ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—कनकस्य आभा यस्य (golden-lustrous)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थे “but/indeed”

• गान्धारः: Gāndhāra (the note Ga)
• गान्धारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्धार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मध्यमः: Madhyama (the note Ma)
• मध्यमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कुन्दसन्निभः: resembling jasmine
• कुन्दसन्निभः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुन्द-सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक; कुन्द + सन्निभ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—कुन्दस्य सन्निभः (like jasmine)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a technical/disciplinary exposition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It links sacred sound (svara/nāda) with contemplative imagery—assigning luminous natural forms to notes—so the mind can steady itself on purity and harmony while engaging disciplined practice.

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

By refining perception of sound and beauty, it supports devotional singing/recitation as a purified offering; the verse emphasizes that even technical knowledge of melody can become a sattvic aid to worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā-related phonetic discipline and the Gandharva-Veda style mapping of svaras (musical notes) to recognizable qualities, useful for correct chanting, musical intonation, and regulated vocal practice.