Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

क्वचिदूर्णागमस्तत्र क्वचिद्वर्णविपर्ययः । विकारः क्वापि वर्णानां वर्णनाशः क्वचिन्मतः ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

kvacidūrṇāgamastatra kvacidvarṇaviparyayaḥ | vikāraḥ kvāpi varṇānāṃ varṇanāśaḥ kvacinmataḥ || 2 ||

Translation

In some places there is the intrusion of extraneous syllables; in some places there is a reversal of letters. Somewhere there is distortion of letters, and elsewhere—so it is held—there is even loss of letters.

Word by Word

• क्वचित्: somewhere/sometimes
• क्वचित्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), स्थानवाचक/कालवाचक-अनिश्चित (indefinite adverb: ‘somewhere/sometimes’)

• ऊर्ण-आगमः: (a case of) insertion/addition (of a sound/letter)
• ऊर्ण-आगमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (determinative: ‘addition of ūṛṇa/letter’)

• तत्र: there/in that case
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb: ‘there/in that case’)

• क्वचित्: somewhere/sometimes
• क्वचित्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनिश्चित-देश/कालवाचक

• वर्ण-विपर्ययः: transposition of letters
• वर्ण-विपर्ययः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + विपर्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘reversal/transposition of letters’)

• विकारः: modification/change
• विकारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्व: where/somewhere
• क्व: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रश्न/अनिश्चित-देशवाचक (where?/somewhere)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle: ‘also/even’)

• वर्णानाम्: of letters/sounds
• वर्णानाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• वर्ण-नाशः: loss/omission of letters
• वर्ण-नाशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘loss of letters’)

• क्वचित्: somewhere/sometimes
• क्वचित्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनिश्चित-देश/कालवाचक

• मतः: is considered/held (to be)
• मतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन् (धातु) → मत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘considered/held (to be)’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on textual/recitational integrity within Dharma and Moksha discourse)

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 warns that spiritual instruction can be weakened when sacred texts or mantras suffer additions, transpositions, distortions, or omissions—therefore preservation of śabda (sound) and artha (meaning) is part of Dharma that supports Moksha.

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

Bhakti relies on sincere remembrance, praise, and recitation of the Lord’s names and teachings; the verse implies that devotion is strengthened when transmission is accurate, preventing confusion in nāma-japa, stotra, and mantra practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It directly points to Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar) by listing common textual faults—extra syllables, letter transposition, letter distortion, and omission—showing why precise pronunciation and correct textual reading matter.