Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 114

Hanūmaccarita

The Account of Hanumān

Devanagari script

विपंचीं वादयन्वाद्यं ललितां गीतिमुज्जगौ । सुगीत्या ललिता यास्तु आगायत विधा दश ॥ ११४ ॥

Transliteration

vipaṃcīṃ vādayanvādyaṃ lalitāṃ gītimujjagau | sugītyā lalitā yāstu āgāyata vidhā daśa || 114 ||

Translation

Tout en jouant de la vipaṃcī (luth), il entonna une mélodie gracieuse. Et ces chants délicats, portés par un beau chant, se chantent selon dix modes distincts.

Word by Word

• विपञ्चीम्: vipaṅcī (a lute)
• विपञ्चीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपञ्ची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वादयन्: playing
• वादयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वद् (धातु) (णिच् causative: वादय)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाद्यम्: musical instrument/music
• वाद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ललिताम्: graceful
• ललिताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ललिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (गीतिम् विशेषयति)

• गीतम्: song
• गीतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उज्जगौ: sang forth
• उज्जगौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + √गै (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• सु-गीत्या: with a fine melody
• सु-गीत्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + गीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (सुन्दर-गीति)

• ललिताः: graceful
• ललिताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ललिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (विधाः विशेषयति)

• याः: which
• याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक relative pronoun

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थ (indeed)

• आगायत: sang
• आगायत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √गै (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• विधाः: modes/varieties
• विधाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• दश: ten
• दश: Saṅkhyā-viśeṣaṇa (संख्या-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्/दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनस्य विशेषणम् (ten)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the technical exposition; within the broader Narada–Sanatkumara instructional frame of Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vipaṃcī

FAQs

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

It elevates sacred music as a disciplined science: refined melody and structured modes become a means of cultivating purity of sound and mind, supporting dharma and devotional practice.

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

By highlighting skilled, graceful singing with an instrument, the verse points to devotional expression through song (kīrtana/gāna) as an ordered practice—beauty and discipline together making worship more focused and heartfelt.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical training in sound and performance—close to Śikṣā (phonetics/voice discipline) and Gandharva-vidyā (musicology)—including classification into ‘ten modes’ (daśa vidhāḥ) of singing.