Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 117

Hanūmaccarita

The Account of Hanumān

Devanagari script

स्वधारामृतसंयुक्तं गानेनैवमपोनयन् । वासुदेवो मर्दलं च कराभ्यामप्यवादयत् ॥ ११७ ॥

Transliteration

svadhārāmṛtasaṃyuktaṃ gānenaivamaponayan | vāsudevo mardalaṃ ca karābhyāmapyavādayat || 117 ||

Translation

Ainsi, par son chant chargé du nectar de son propre courant intérieur, il dissipa fatigue et chagrin. Et Vāsudeva, lui aussi, joua du mṛdaṅga (mardala) de ses deux mains.

Word by Word

• svadhārāmṛtasaṃyuktam: mixed with its own nectar-stream
• svadhārāmṛtasaṃyuktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva + dhārā + amṛta + saṃyukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन; qualifies (implicit) gānam/rasam: ‘mixed with the nectar of its own stream’

• gānena: by singing
• gānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (sg.)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphasis ‘indeed/just’

• am: thus (particle element)
• am: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: am (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; enclitic particle (often with eva: एवम्)

• aponayan: removing
• aponayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-√nī (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन; ‘removing’

• vāsudevaḥ: Vāsudeva (Krishna)
• vāsudevaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.)

• mardalam: drum (mṛdaṅga-type)
• mardalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mardala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• karābhyām: with (his) two hands
• karābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), द्विवचन (dual)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘also/even’

• avādayat: played
• avādayat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√vad (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.); causative sense ‘played (an instrument)’

Speaker

Narada (as narrator within the dialogue tradition, typically addressed to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Krishna

FAQs

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

It presents devotional sound—song infused with “amṛta” (nectar-like spiritual relish)—as a force that dispels inner heaviness, while Vāsudeva’s drum-playing highlights sacred music as an elevating, sanctifying act.

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

Bhakti is shown as lived practice: kīrtana (devotional singing) and vādya (instrumental accompaniment) become direct vehicles for remembrance of Vāsudeva, transforming the atmosphere and the devotee’s inner state.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to disciplined use of voice and rhythm in sacred performance—skills aligned with traditional śikṣā (phonetics/recitation discipline) and the broader Vedic culture of regulated sound (nāda) used for focus and ritual efficacy.