Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

विस्तरं विरसं चैव विश्लिष्टं विषमाहतम् । व्याकुलं तालहीनं च गीतिदोषाश्चतुर्दश ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

vistaraṃ virasaṃ caiva viśliṣṭaṃ viṣamāhatam | vyākulaṃ tālahīnaṃ ca gītidoṣāścaturdaśa || 45 ||

Translation

« Trop étiré, sans saveur esthétique, disjoint, frappé de façon inégale, agité, et dépourvu de tāla (mesure rythmique) »—tels sont, parmi d’autres, les quatorze défauts du chant (gīti-doṣa).

Word by Word

• vistaram: over-extended/prolix
• vistaram: Viśeṣya-predicative (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vistara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• virasam: tasteless/without charm
• virasam: Viśeṣya-predicative (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: virasa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (एव-निपात)

• viśliṣṭam: disjointed
• viśliṣṭam: Viśeṣya-predicative (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√śliṣ (धातु) → viśliṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• viṣama-āhatam: unevenly beaten/irregularly struck
• viṣama-āhatam: Viśeṣya-predicative (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣama (प्रातिपदik) + āhata (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः (descriptive: ‘struck unevenly’)

• vyākulam: agitated/confused
• vyākulam: Viśeṣya-predicative (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyākula (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• tāla-hīnam: without rhythm/time-beat
• tāla-hīnam: Viśeṣya-predicative (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāla (प्रातिपदik) + hīna (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः (privation: ‘devoid of rhythm’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• gīti-doṣāḥ: faults in singing
• gīti-doṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gīti (प्रातिपदik) + doṣa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘faults of singing’)

• caturdaśa: fourteen
• caturdaśa: Saṅkhyā (संख्या/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturdaśan (संख्या-प्रातिपदik)
• Form: (Numeral) Nominative, Plural sense; indeclinable-like numeral used predicatively with doṣāḥ

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue instructing Narada on disciplined sacred practice and technical correctness)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacred sound—whether mantra, stotra, or devotional singing—must be disciplined and well-formed; careless delivery (without rasa, coherence, or tāla) becomes a ‘fault’ that diminishes the sanctifying power of worship.

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

Bhakti is not only emotion but also right offering: devotional song should be steady, coherent, and rhythmically grounded, so the mind becomes one-pointed rather than ‘vyākula’ (agitated).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics and disciplined vocal delivery) and allied concerns of rhythm/measure (tāla) are emphasized—practical rules for correct recitation and performance so that sacred sound remains precise and effective.