Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

आत्मनेपदिनौ प्रोक्तौ षूङ्शीङ्द्वौ शाब्दिकैर्मुने । परस्मैपदिनः प्रोक्ता षुमुखाः सप्त धातवः ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

ātmanepadinau proktau ṣūṅśīṅdvau śābdikairmune | parasmaipadinaḥ proktā ṣumukhāḥ sapta dhātavaḥ || 38 ||

Translation

聖仙よ、文法家たちは語根「ṣūṅ」「śīṅ」の二つをアートマネーパダと説く。また「ṣu-」に始まる七つの語根をパラスマイパダ（能動）と宣示する。

Word by Word

• आत्मनेपदिनौ: Ātmanepada (middle-voice) (two)
• आत्मनेपदिनौ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मनेपदिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (द्वौ धातू)

• प्रोक्तौ: are declared
• प्रोक्तौ: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्तः (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘declared/said’

• षूङ्: the root ṣūṅ
• षूङ्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षूङ् (धातु)
• Form: धातुनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (द्वौ इति समुच्चये)

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

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्याशब्द, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; संख्यावाचक (qualifier of the two roots)

• शाब्दिकैः: by grammarians
• शाब्दिकैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाब्दिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

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

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

• षु-मुखाः: those beginning with ‘ṣu’
• षु-मुखाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षु (धातुनाम) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहिः (षु-नामकं मुखं/आदिः येषाम्)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्याशब्द, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (धातवः इति विशेष्ये)

• धातवः: roots
• धातवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

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 highlights Vedāṅga-Vyākaraṇa as a disciplined means of preserving Vedic speech (śabda), implying that clarity in language supports clarity in dharma and mokṣa-oriented study.

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

Indirectly: correct grammatical understanding safeguards accurate recitation and interpretation of sacred names and hymns, thereby supporting Vishnu-bhakti practices grounded in precise śabda.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa: the technical classification of verbal roots (dhātus) by voice/pada—Ātmanepada vs Parasmaipada—citing specific roots (ṣūṅ, śīṅ) and a group beginning with ṣu.