Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

Chandas: Varṇa-gaṇas, Guru-Laghu, Vṛtta-bheda, and Prastāra Procedures

Devanagari script

कृत्वा सेकान्वदैत्संख्यामिति प्राहुः पुराविदः । वर्णान्सेकान्वृत्तभवानुत्तराधरतः स्थितान् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

kṛtvā sekānvadaitsaṃkhyāmiti prāhuḥ purāvidaḥ | varṇānsekānvṛttabhavānuttarādharataḥ sthitān || 17 ||

Translation

Les sages de l’antiquité disent : «Après avoir disposé les “seka”, il faut en énoncer le nombre». Ces “seka” — les classes de lettres — sont établis dans l’ordre convenable, du plus élevé au plus bas.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: कृ; ‘having done’

• सेकान्: sprinklings/‘seka’ units
• सेकान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• अवदैत्: said/declared
• अवदैत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• सङ्ख्याम्: the number/count
• सङ्ख्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्तिवाचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• प्राहुः: they said
• प्राहुः: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• पुराविदः: knowers of old/ancients
• पुराविदः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरा+विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पुराणां विदः/पुरा विदः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• वर्णान्: syllables/letters
• वर्णान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• सेकान्: sprinklings/‘seka’ units
• सेकान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• वृत्तभवान्: pertaining to the metre
• वृत्तभवान्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत्त+भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (वृत्ते भवान्/वृत्त-भवत् = ‘belonging to the metre’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• उत्तराधरतः: from above and below (in order)
• उत्तराधरतः: अधिकरण-निर्देश (Adverbial locator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत्तर+अधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (उत्तर+अधर), तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘from above and below/upper-lower-wise’

• स्थितान्: placed/standing
• स्थितान्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘स्थित’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/śāstra mode)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It highlights that precise śāstric order—especially in sound/letter discipline—supports correct recitation and transmission of Vedic knowledge, which is treated as a foundation for dharma and higher realization.

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

Indirectly: bhakti practices rely on accurate mantra and nāma-recitation; this verse emphasizes orderly, authoritative handling of sounds and their grouping so devotional chanting remains faithful to tradition.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics) and allied Vyākaraṇa-style classification: arranging letter-groups and stating their counts in a defined descending order for correct study and recitation.