Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

दीव्यद्धनुश्च पिपठीः पयोऽदःसुमुमांसि च । गुणद्रव्य क्रियायोगांस्रिलिंगांश्च कति ब्रुवे ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

dīvyaddhanuśca pipaṭhīḥ payo'daḥsumumāṃsi ca | guṇadravya kriyāyogāṃsriliṃgāṃśca kati bruve || 44 ||

Translation

«Il est des mots tels que dīvyad-dhanuḥ, pipaṭhīḥ, payo’daḥ et su-mumāṁsi ; et il y a aussi les catégories des qualités, des substances, des actions, des relations/compounds, ainsi que les formes du féminin — combien de tout cela dois-je exposer ?»

Word by Word

• dīvyat: shining/playing
• dīvyat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: div (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya present active participle (शतृ), Napuṃsaka? agreeing with dhanuḥ; here used as adjective

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanuṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• pipaṭhīḥ: pipaṭhīs (a lexical class/term)
• pipaṭhīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pipaṭhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• payaḥ: milk/water
• payaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: payas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• adaḥ: that (yonder)
• adaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• su-mumāṃsi: very fleshy pieces (lit. good meats)
• su-mumāṃsi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + mumāṃsi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय); Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• guṇa-dravya: qualities and substances
• guṇa-dravya: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa + dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) ‘qualities and substances’; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana implied with following list

• kriyā-yogān: connections/relations of actions
• kriyā-yogān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष); Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana

• tri-liṅgān: the three genders
• tri-liṅgān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Dvigu (द्विगु) ‘three genders’; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• kati: how many
• kati: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative adjective (प्रश्नवाचक), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन), case per context (here Dvitīyā as object-count)

• bruve: I say/tell
• bruve: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Uttama-puruṣa (1st/उत्तमपुरुष), Ekavacana; ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

Speaker

Narada (within a technical/analytical discourse, traditionally in dialogue context with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It shows that Moksha-oriented teaching in the Narada Purana also employs disciplined Vedic analysis of language—classifying words and meanings (substance, quality, action, relation)—so the seeker’s understanding becomes precise and free from confusion.

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

Indirectly: by refining comprehension of sacred speech and meaning, it supports correct understanding of scriptural statements that guide devotion; clear knowledge of words and categories prevents misreading teachings about dharma and liberation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga-oriented linguistic science—especially Vyākaraṇa (grammar) and semantic categorization (guṇa/dravya/kriyā/yoga, gender such as strī-liṅga), illustrated through compound/word-form examples like payo'daḥ (payoda, ‘cloud’).