Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

अंतरस्वरसंयुक्तः काकलिर्यत्र दृश्यते । तं तु साधारितं विद्यात्पंचमस्थं तु कैशिकम् ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

aṃtarasvarasaṃyuktaḥ kākaliryatra dṛśyate | taṃ tu sādhāritaṃ vidyātpaṃcamasthaṃ tu kaiśikam || 55 ||

Translation

Là où le ton kākali se fait entendre avec une note intermédiaire (intérieure), il faut le comprendre comme sādhārita (variante). Et lorsqu’il est placé sur la cinquième note, on l’appelle kaiśika.

Word by Word

• aṃtarasvara-saṃyuktaḥ: combined with an intermediate tone
• aṃtarasvara-saṃyuktaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण of kākaliḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṃtara-svara (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyukta (कृदन्त; √yuj/युज् with sam-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अंतरस्वरेण संयुक्तः = joined with intermediate tone)

• kākaliḥ: Kākalī (note/name)
• kākaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक/सापेक्ष (where)

• dṛśyate: is seen/appears
• dṛśyate: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• tam: that (one)
• tam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषार्थक (particle)

• sādhāritam: Sādhārita (name/designation)
• sādhāritam: Karma (कर्म; object-complement with tam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhārita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-रूप)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; संज्ञा-रूपेण (as a technical designation)

• vidyāt: should know
• vidyāt: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• paṃcama-stham: situated on the fifth (note)
• paṃcama-stham: Visheshana (विशेषण of kaiśikam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paṃcama (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पंचमे स्थितम् = situated on the fifth)

• tu: and/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषार्थक

• kaiśikam: Kaiśika (name)
• kaiśikam: Karma (कर्म; object of vidyāt)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaiśika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; संज्ञा (proper/technical name)

Speaker

Narada (teaching technical Shiksha/svara science to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that precise intonation (svara) is part of dharma: mantra power and clarity of meaning depend on correct tonal knowledge taught in Vedanga-Śikṣā.

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

Bhakti is supported by right practice: when hymns and mantras are sung/recited with correct swaras, devotion becomes disciplined and the offering (stuti/japa) is considered properly formed.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedanga-Śikṣā: it gives a technical rule for identifying and naming tonal variants (kākali as sādhārita; and kaiśika when positioned on pañcama), useful for accurate chanting and musical-phonetic tradition.