Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

अष्टादश राप्रभृतयः परस्मैपदिनः स्मृताः । इङ्ङात्मनेपदी प्रोक्तो धातुर्नारद केवलः ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭādaśa rāprabhṛtayaḥ parasmaipadinaḥ smṛtāḥ | iṅṅātmanepadī prokto dhāturnārada kevalaḥ || 41 ||

Translation

Dix-huit racines verbales—à commencer par le groupe dont « rā- » est le chef—sont mémorisées comme Parasmaipada (à désinences actives). Quant à la racine « iṅ », ô Nārada, elle est enseignée comme exclusivement Ātmanepada.

Word by Word

• अष्टादश: eighteen
• अष्टादश: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टादश (संख्याशब्द, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (राप्रभृतयः इति विशेष्ये)

• रा-प्रभृतयः: those beginning with ‘rā’
• रा-प्रभृतयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रा (धातुनाम) + प्रभृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (रा-आदयो ये)

• परस्मैपदिनः: Parasmaipada (active-voice)
• परस्मैपदिनः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परस्मैपदिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (राप्रभृतयः)

• स्मृताः: are regarded
• स्मृताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्तः (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘are considered/remembered’

• इङ्: the root iṅ
• इङ्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इङ् (धातु)
• Form: धातुनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आत्मनेपदी: Ātmanepada (middle-voice)
• आत्मनेपदी: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मनेपदिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (धातुः)

• प्रोक्तः: is declared
• प्रोक्तः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्तः (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धातुः: a root
• धातुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• केवलः: alone/only
• केवलः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (इङ्/धातुः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It shows that disciplined Vedic knowledge—especially Vyākaraṇa (grammar)—is treated as a supporting limb of dharma and mokṣa, because precise language preserves correct understanding of śāstra.

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing correct grammatical tradition, it safeguards accurate recitation and comprehension of sacred texts that nourish bhakti, even though the verse itself is technical.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa: the rule-based classification of dhātus into parasmaipada and ātmanepada usage, including an example of a root taught as exclusively ātmanepada.