Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Chandas: Varṇa-gaṇas, Guru-Laghu, Vṛtta-bheda, and Prastāra Procedures

Devanagari script

तगणोंऽतलघुः ख्यातो मध्यगो जो भआदिगः । त्रिलघुर्नगणः प्रोक्तस्त्रिका वर्णगणा मुने ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

tagaṇoṃ'talaghuḥ khyāto madhyago jo bhaādigaḥ | trilaghurnagaṇaḥ proktastrikā varṇagaṇā mune || 4 ||

Translation

The ta-gaṇa is known as the group whose last syllable is short; the ja-gaṇa has a short syllable in the middle and begins with ‘bha’. The na-gaṇa is said to be three short syllables. Thus, O sage, these are the triads of syllabic groups (varṇa-gaṇas).

Word by Word

• तगणः: the ta-gaṇa
• तगणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त-गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; छन्दोगण-नाम

• अतलघुः: very light / extremely laghu
• अतलघुः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति-लघु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव: अति (अव्यय) + लघु (विशेष्य)

• ख्यातः: is known as
• ख्यातः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘known/called’

• मध्यगः: middle-going / in the middle
• मध्यगः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• यः: which/that (one)
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• भ-आदिगः: beginning with ‘bha’ (i.e., bha-gaṇa etc.)
• भ-आदिगः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ-आदि-ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: भः आदिः यस्य/भ-आदि (beginning with bha) + ग (going/placed)

• त्रिलघुः: having three laghus
• त्रिलघुः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि-लघु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु: त्रि (संख्या) + लघु

• नगणः: the na-gaṇa
• नगणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न-गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; छन्दोगण-नाम

• प्रोक्तः: is declared
• प्रोक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्रिकाः: triads (groups of three)
• त्रिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘triads’

• वर्णगणाः: groups of syllables/letters
• वर्णगणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण-गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वर्णानां गणाः

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

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 preserves Vedāṅga-Chandas knowledge: correct meter supports accurate recitation of sacred texts, which is treated as a discipline aiding clarity, concentration, and dharmic study.

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

Indirectly: it equips the devotee with prosodic precision so hymns and stotras can be chanted correctly, strengthening śravaṇa and kīrtana practices.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga-Chandas: identification of syllabic triads (gaṇas) by laghu/guru placement—ta-gaṇa (last laghu), ja-gaṇa (middle laghu), and na-gaṇa (three laghus).