Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 85

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

Devanagari script

तस्मै वाकर्मकाद्विप्र भावे कर्तरि कीर्तितः । फलव्यापरयोरेकनिष्टतायामकर्मकः ॥ ८५ ॥

Transliteration

tasmai vākarmakādvipra bhāve kartari kīrtitaḥ | phalavyāparayorekaniṣṭatāyāmakarmakaḥ || 85 ||

Translation

Ainsi, ô brāhmane, un verbe est dit intransitif (akarmaka) lorsque, en exprimant un état (bhāva) ou un agent (kartṛ), le fruit (phala) et l’activité (vyāpāra) demeurent dans un seul et même support.

Word by Word

• tasmai: to him/for that (reason)
• tasmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (Dative); एकवचन

• akarmakāt: from an intransitive (root)
• akarmakāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-karmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (नञ्-तत्पुरुष: अ + कर्मक); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

• vipra: O brāhmaṇa
• vipra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

• bhāve: in bhāva (action/state) sense
• bhāve: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

• kartari: in the agent (kartṛ) sense
• kartari: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

• kīrtitaḥ: is declared/said
• kīrtitaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kīrt (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

• phala-vyāparayoḥ: of result and activity
• phala-vyāparayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक) + vyāpāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—द्वन्द्व (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व-प्राय); षष्ठी-विभक्तिः; द्विवचन/बहुवचन-रूपेण (Genitive dual form -yoḥ)

• ekaniṣṭatāyām: when there is resting in one (single locus)
• ekaniṣṭatāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + niṣṭatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: एक + निष्ठता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

• akarmakaḥ: (the root) is intransitive
• akarmakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-karmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (नञ्-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on Vyakarana principles)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It safeguards correct understanding of śāstra by defining when a verb is akarmaka; precise grammar supports accurate transmission of dharma and mokṣa teachings.

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

Indirectly: by clarifying linguistic meaning, it prevents misreading of bhakti-oriented injunctions and praises in scripture, ensuring devotion is grounded in correct śāstric comprehension.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Vyākaraṇa: the criterion for an intransitive verb—when both the action-process (vyāpāra) and its result (phala) inhere in the same locus, so no separate object is required.