Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 84

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

शब्दाः प्रोक्ता ह्यनेकार्थाः सर्वलिंगा अपि द्विज । गणपाठः सूत्रपाठो धातुपाठस्तथैव च ॥ ८४ ॥

Transliteration

śabdāḥ proktā hyanekārthāḥ sarvaliṃgā api dvija | gaṇapāṭhaḥ sūtrapāṭho dhātupāṭhastathaiva ca || 84 ||

Translation

おお、二度生まれし者よ、語は多義であり、またあらゆる性（文法性）に通用すると説かれる。同様に、Gaṇa の諸一覧、スートラの誦読、そして Dhātu-pāṭha（語根一覧）もまたある。

Word by Word

• शब्दाः: words/sounds
• शब्दाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nom. Pl.)

• प्रोक्ताः: declared/taught
• प्रोक्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; विशेषण

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• अनेक-अर्थाः: having many meanings
• अनेक-अर्थाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘अनेकाः अर्थाः’ इति कर्मधारय; विशेषण

• सर्व-लिङ्गाः: of all genders
• सर्व-लिङ्गाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘सर्वेषु लिङ्गेषु’ इत्यर्थे; विशेषण

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

• द्विज: O twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचन (Voc. Sg.)

• गण-पाठः: the Gaṇa-list/text
• गण-पाठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + पाठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. Sg.)

• सूत्र-पाठः: the Sūtra-text/recitation
• सूत्र-पाठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पाठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• धातु-पाठः: the Dhātu-list (Dhātupāṭha)
• धातु-पाठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक) + पाठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• एव: just/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that correct understanding of śāstra depends on disciplined knowledge of language—how words can carry multiple meanings and how grammar organizes them—so that spiritual teaching is grasped without confusion.

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

By highlighting precise śabda-knowledge, it supports bhakti indirectly: when names, praises, and teachings about the Divine are interpreted accurately, devotion becomes aligned with right understanding rather than misunderstanding.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa (grammar): polysemy of words, grammatical gender usage, and core study tools—gaṇa-pāṭha (word-group lists), sūtra-pāṭha (rule aphorisms), and dhātu-pāṭha (verbal roots).