Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

Anūcāna (True Learning), the Vedāṅgas, and Śikṣā: Svara, Sāmavedic Chant, and Gandharva Theory

Devanagari script

आचार्याः सममिच्छंति पदच्छेदं तु पंडिताः । स्त्रियो मधुरमिच्छंति विक्रुष्टमितरे जनाः ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

ācāryāḥ samamicchaṃti padacchedaṃ tu paṃḍitāḥ | striyo madhuramicchaṃti vikruṣṭamitare janāḥ || 46 ||

Translation

ಆಚಾರ್ಯರು ಸಮವಾಗಿ, ಮಿತವಾಗಿ ಹಾಡುವುದನ್ನು ಇಚ್ಛಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ; ಪಂಡಿತರು ಪದಚ್ಛೇದ—ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟ ಪದವಿಭಾಗ—ಬಯಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಸ್ತ್ರೀಯರು ಮಧುರಸ್ವರವನ್ನು ಇಷ್ಟಪಡುತ್ತಾರೆ; ಇತರ ಜನರು ಉಚ್ಚಸ್ವರದ, ಬಲವಾದ (ವಿಕೃಷ್ಠ) ಪಠಣವನ್ನು ಮೆಚ್ಚುತ್ತಾರೆ।

Word by Word

• ācāryāḥ: teachers
• ācāryāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācārya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• samam: evenness (the ‘sama’ quality)
• samam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of ‘icchanti’

• icchanti: desire/prefer
• icchanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• pada-cchedam: word-segmentation
• pada-cchedam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदik) + cheda (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘division of words’)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• paṇḍitāḥ: learned people
• paṇḍitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṇḍita (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• striyaḥ: women
• striyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• madhuram: sweetness (the ‘madhura’ quality)
• madhuram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of ‘icchanti’

• icchanti: desire/prefer
• icchanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• vikruṣṭam: loud utterance (the ‘vikruṣṭa’ quality)
• vikruṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikruṣṭa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of ‘icchanti’ (understood)

• itare: other
• itare: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: itara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; agrees with janāḥ

• janāḥ: people
• janāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

Narada (teaching on proper recitation and audience disposition, in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches discernment in sacred speech: different listeners seek different qualities, but the practitioner should value disciplined, intelligible recitation that supports understanding and inner steadiness—key to Moksha-oriented Dharma.

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

Bhakti is strengthened when recitation becomes pleasing yet clear and steady; the verse cautions that mere loudness is not devotion—devotion matures through mindful, respectful chanting that conveys meaning.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Shiksha (phonetics/intonation) via “samam” and “vikruṣṭam,” and to Vyakarana-oriented practice through “padaccheda,” emphasizing correct parsing for accurate comprehension and transmission.