Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

Vyākaraṇa-saṅgraha: Pada–Vibhakti–Kāraka–Lakāra–Samāsa

Devanagari script

सुप्तिङंतं पदं विप्र सुपां सप्त विभक्तयः । स्वौजसः प्रथमा प्रोक्ता सा प्रातिपदिकात्मिका ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

suptiṅaṃtaṃ padaṃ vipra supāṃ sapta vibhaktayaḥ | svaujasaḥ prathamā proktā sā prātipadikātmikā || 2 ||

Translation

ಓ ವಿಪ್ರ, ‘ಪದ’ ಎಂದರೆ ಸುಪ್ ಅಥವಾ ತಿಙ್ ಪ್ರತ್ಯಯದಿಂದ ಅಂತ್ಯಗೊಳ್ಳುವದು. ಸುಪ್ ಪ್ರತ್ಯಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಏಳು ವಿಭಕ್ತಿಗಳು ಇವೆ. ‘ಸು–ಔ–ಜಸ್’ ಅನ್ನು ಪ್ರಥಮಾ ವಿಭಕ್ತಿಯೆಂದು ಹೇಳಲಾಗಿದೆ; ಅದು ಪ್ರಾತಿಪದಿಕ (ನಾಮಾಧಾರ) ಸ್ವರೂಪದ್ದಾಗಿದೆ.

Word by Word

• सुप्तिङन्तम्: ending in sup or tiṅ (nominal/ verbal endings)
• सुप्तिङन्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्तिङन्त (प्रातिपदिक; सुप् + तिङ् + अन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सुप्-तिङ्-अन्तं यत्)

• पदम्: a word (pada)
• पदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुपाम्: of the sup endings
• सुपाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुप् (प्रत्याहार/प्रत्यय-समूह; प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘of the sup (case-endings)’

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषण; ‘seven’ (विभक्तयः इति विशेष्ये)

• विभक्तयः: case-endings/cases
• विभक्तयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्वौजसः: (the endings) su/au/jas
• स्वौजसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वौजस् (प्रातिपदिक; स्वौ + जस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः (स्वौ च जस् च) — प्रथमा-विभक्तेः प्रत्ययौ

• प्रथमा: the first case (nominative)
• प्रथमा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रथमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रोक्ता: is stated
• प्रोक्ता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-उच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; ‘is said’ (प्रथमा इति)

• सा: that (she/it)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रातिपदिकात्मिका: having the nature of a nominal base (prātipadika)
• प्रातिपदिकात्मिका: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रातिपदिकात्मिका (प्रातिपदिक; प्रातिपदिक + आत्मिका)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रातिपदिकस्य आत्मिका)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It frames Vyākaraṇa (grammar) as a Vedāṅga discipline: by defining ‘pada’ and the case-system, the verse supports precise understanding of śāstra, which is treated as a practical aid for clarity in dharma and mokṣa-oriented study.

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

Indirectly: bhakti practices rely on correct mantra, nāma, and scriptural recitation. By teaching the structure of words (pada) and cases (vibhakti), the verse underlines accurate utterance and comprehension—supporting disciplined Vishnu-bhakti through correct language use.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa: the definition of a grammatical ‘word’ as sup/tiṅ-ending, the seven vibhaktis, and identification of the nominative (prathamā) endings ‘su–au–jas’ as rooted in the prātipadika (nominal base).