Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 95

Sṛṣṭi-pralaya-kathana: Mahābhūta-guṇāḥ, Vṛkṣa-indriya-vādaḥ, Prāṇa-vāyu-vyavasthā

Devanagari script

शब्दस्पर्शौ तु विज्ञेयौ द्विगुणौ वायुरित्युत । एवमेकादशविधो वायव्यो गुण उच्यते ॥ ९५ ॥

Transliteration

śabdasparśau tu vijñeyau dviguṇau vāyurityuta | evamekādaśavidho vāyavyo guṇa ucyate || 95 ||

Translation

Le son et le toucher doivent être compris comme les deux qualités de l’air (vāyu), ainsi est-il dit. Dès lors, la qualité appartenant à l’air est proclamée comme étant onze fois diverse.

Word by Word

• शब्द-स्पर्शौ: sound and touch
• शब्द-स्पर्शौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (dual nominative)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed/but)

• विज्ञेयौ: are to be known
• विज्ञेयौ: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग) → विज्ञेय (कृदन्त, तव्यत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative, तव्यत्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विधेय (to be known)

• द्वि-गुणौ: twofold
• द्वि-गुणौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण (twofold)

• वायुः: air (vāyu)
• वायुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• उत: also
• उत: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उत्कर्षार्थक निपात (and/also; emphatic)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• एकादश-विधः: of eleven kinds
• एकादश-विधः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (संख्या-निर्देश); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (elevenfold)

• वायव्यः: pertaining to air
• वायव्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वायव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• गुणः: quality
• गुणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उच्यते: is said/called
• उच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उच्यते (कर्मणि)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Vayu

FAQs

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

It trains discernment (viveka) by classifying experience into elemental qualities—here, air is known through sound and touch—supporting detachment from sensory appearances and movement toward moksha.

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

Indirectly: by understanding that sensory qualities belong to prakriti (the elements), a devotee can offer the senses to the Lord without mistaking sensory experience for the Self, strengthening single-pointed Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical tattva-classification akin to Sāṅkhya is used as a teaching tool; it supports disciplined study and contemplation rather than a specific Vedanga ritual technique.