Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

गेति गेयं विदुः प्राज्ञा धेति कारुप्रवादनम् । वेति वाद्यस्य संज्ञेयं गंधर्वस्य प्ररोचनम् ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

geti geyaṃ viduḥ prājñā dheti kārupravādanam | veti vādyasya saṃjñeyaṃ gaṃdharvasya prarocanam || 58 ||

Translation

Les sages savent que ‘geti’ désigne ce qui doit être chanté; ‘dheti’ désigne l’exécution habile des arts; et ‘veti’ doit être compris comme l’appellation de la musique instrumentale : tels sont les éléments plaisants du Gandharva (science de la musique et de la représentation).

Word by Word

• गेति: ‘ge’ (thus)
• गेति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गेति (अव्यय; इति-युक्त-उद्धरण)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), उद्धरण-निपात (quotative with इति): ‘(it is called) ge’

• गेयम्: a song; that which is to be sung
• गेयम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गेय (कृदन्त; √गै/गाय् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); भाव/कर्मणि-योग्य (that which is to be sung)

• विदुः: know, consider
• विदुः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• प्राज्ञाः: the wise (people)
• प्राज्ञाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• धेति: ‘dhe’ (thus)
• धेति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धेति (अव्यय; इति-युक्त-उद्धरण)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), उद्धरण-निपात (quotative with इति): ‘(it is called) dhe’

• कारुप्रवादनम्: the musician’s playing/intonation
• कारुप्रवादनम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारु-प्रवादन (प्रातिपदिक); कारु (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवादन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘कारोः प्रवादनम्’ (playing/intonation by a singer/artist)

• वेति: ‘ve’ (thus)
• वेति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वेति (अव्यय; इति-युक्त-उद्धरण)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), उद्धरण-निपात (quotative with इति): ‘(it is called) ve’

• वाद्यस्य: of an instrument
• वाद्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• संज्ञेयम्: to be known as; termed
• संज्ञेयम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicative complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संज्ञेय (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा धातु, उपसर्ग सं-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय-विशेषण (to be known/termed)

• गन्धर्वस्य: of the Gandharva
• गन्धर्वस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्ररोचनम्: delight, pleasing (sound)
• प्ररोचनम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्ररोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical register on Gandharva-vidya)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gandharva

FAQs

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

It classifies core components of Gandharva-vidya (song, artistic performance, and instruments), implying that disciplined sound and art—when properly understood—can refine the mind and support dharma-oriented living.

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

By defining what is ‘to be sung’ (geya) and what belongs to instrumental music (vadya), it indirectly supports devotional practice through structured kirtana, stotra-gayana, and sacred performance that can be offered with bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical, śāstra-like taxonomy of musical practice (Gandharva-vidya) related to disciplined sound and recitation—adjacent to Śikṣā (phonetics) and the wider traditional sciences used to preserve and perform sacred texts.