Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

स्वराणां च विशेषेण ग्रामरागा इति स्मृताः । विंशतिर्मध्यमग्रामे षड्जग्रामे चतुर्दश ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

svarāṇāṃ ca viśeṣeṇa grāmarāgā iti smṛtāḥ | viṃśatirmadhyamagrāme ṣaḍjagrāme caturdaśa || 34 ||

Translation

En particulier, les agencements propres des notes sont mémorisés sous le nom de « grāma-rāga ». Dans le Madhyama-grāma, il y en a vingt ; et dans le Ṣaḍja-grāma, quatorze.

Word by Word

• स्वराणाम्: of the notes (svaras)
• स्वराणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे—“especially”

• ग्रामरागाः: grāma-rāgas (melodic modes)
• ग्रामरागाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रामराग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; समासः—ग्राम + राग (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; “melodies of grāma”)

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-चिह्न (Quotation marker/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• स्मृताः: are called/are known as
• स्मृताः: क्रिया-विशेष (Predicative participle/कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मणि—“are called/are remembered”

• विंशतिः: twenty
• विंशतिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विंशति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (संख्याशब्द), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• मध्यमग्रामे: in the Madhyama-grāma
• मध्यमग्रामे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यमग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; समासः—मध्यम + ग्राम (कर्मधारय; “Madhyama-grāma”)

• षड्जग्रामे: in the Ṣaḍja-grāma
• षड्जग्रामे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षड्जग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; समासः—षड्ज + ग्राम (कर्मधारय; “Ṣaḍja-grāma”)

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• चतुर्दश: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्द; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (संख्याफल); द्विगु-समासः—चतुर् + दश

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/vedāṅga-style exposition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It highlights disciplined knowledge of svara (tone) and ordered sound-systems (grāma), implying that sacred sound is not random but governed by precise tradition—supporting clarity in recitation, learning, and contemplative practices.

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

While not directly prescribing bhakti, it supports devotional practice by grounding nāma-saṅkīrtana and sacred recitation in correct tonal structure; accurate sound and rhythm are treated as aids to steadiness of mind and reverence in worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā/phonetics and allied Gandharva-knowledge: the verse gives a technical enumeration of grāma-based rāgas—20 in Madhyama-grāma and 14 in Ṣaḍja-grāma—reflecting systematic tonal theory used in disciplined chanting and musical science.