Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Vyākaraṇa-saṅgraha: Pada–Vibhakti–Kāraka–Lakāra–Samāsa

Devanagari script

नाम्नि प्रयुज्यमाने तु प्रथमः पुरुषो भवेत् । मध्यमो युष्मदि प्रोक्त उत्तमः पुरुषोऽस्मदि ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

nāmni prayujyamāne tu prathamaḥ puruṣo bhavet | madhyamo yuṣmadi prokta uttamaḥ puruṣo'smadi || 20 ||

Translation

Lorsqu’un nom est employé (comme sujet du discours), il est traité comme la première personne. La deuxième personne est dite être la forme « yuṣmad » (toi/vous), et la troisième (l’autre) personne la forme « asmad » (moi/nous).

Word by Word

• नाम्नि: in a noun (usage)
• नाम्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘in a noun/name’

• प्रयुज्यमाने: when (it is) being used
• प्रयुज्यमाने: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + युज् (धातु) + यमान (कृत्) → प्रयुज्यमान (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक-कर्तरि/कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; नाम्नि इति विशेषणम्; ‘when being used/applied’

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• प्रथमः: the first (person)
• प्रथमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुरुषः: person (grammatical person)
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would be/is to be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मध्यमः: the middle/second (person)
• मध्यमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• युष्मदि: in the ‘you’ (pronoun)
• युष्मदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘in/with yuṣmad (2nd-person pronoun)’

• प्रोक्तः: is called/said
• प्रोक्तः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (मध्यमः) इति विशेष्यस्य विधेयः; ‘is said/called’

• उत्तमः: the highest/first (person)
• उत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुरुषः: person
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अस्मदि: in the ‘I/we’ (pronoun)
• अस्मदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘in/with asmad (1st-person pronoun)’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It highlights that liberation-oriented study (Moksha Dharma) in the Narada Purana includes Vedanga mastery—especially Vyakarana—so that sacred meaning is preserved through precise language.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports bhakti practice by emphasizing correct grammatical understanding, which safeguards accurate recitation and comprehension of Vishnu-stotras, mantras, and Purana teachings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar): the classification of grammatical persons (puruṣa) and the usage of pronoun-bases like asmad (I/we) and yuṣmad (you) in correct expression.