Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

कर्णेभिश्च यशोभाग्य इत्याद्याश्चतुरक्षरम् । देवासोऽथो सर्वदेवतातित्वावत इत्यपि ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

karṇebhiśca yaśobhāgya ityādyāścaturakṣaram | devāso'tho sarvadevatātitvāvata ityapi || 10 ||

Translation

“ಕರ್ಣೇಭಿಃ”, “ಯಶೋ-ಭಾಗ್ಯ” ಇತ್ಯಾದಿಯಿಂದ ಆರಂಭವಾಗುವ ಹಾಗೂ ಇತರ ಚತುರಕ್ಷರ (ನಾಲ್ಕಕ್ಷರ) ಮಂತ್ರಗಳು; ಹಾಗೆಯೇ “ದೇವಾಸಃ” ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ; ಮತ್ತು “ಸರ್ವದೇವತಾತಿತ್ವಾವತ್” (ಎಲ್ಲ ದೇವತೆಗಳನ್ನು ಮೀರುವ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಯುಳ್ಳ) ಎಂಬುದೂ—ಇವೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಗ್ರಹಿಸಬೇಕಾದವು.

Word by Word

• कर्णेभिः: with ears
• कर्णेभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

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

• यशोभाग्य: ‘yaśo-bhāgya’ (fame-and-fortune)
• यशोभाग्य: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् + भाग्य (प्रातिपदिक; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चय)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.) एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — as a cited word-form; “fame and fortune”

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण-चिह्न (quotative)

• आद्याः: beginning with (such forms)
• आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• चतुरक्षरम्: four-syllabled
• चतुरक्षरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) — “having four syllables/letters”

• देवासः: the gods (Vedic form devāsaḥ)
• देवासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); वैदिक-प्रथमा-बहुवचन (Vedic nom. pl.)

• अथो: also, moreover
• अथो: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथो (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) — “and then/also/indeed”

• सर्वदेवतातित्वावतः: ‘sarva-devatā-titva-vat’ (possessing all-deity-ness)
• सर्वदेवतातित्वावतः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + देवता + तित्व + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.) एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine) — as a cited word-form; तद्धितान्त (vat) “possessing the state of being all-deities”

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण-चिह्न (quotative)

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

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context typical of this section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It indicates that specific short, potent mantra-phrases (noted by their opening words) are recognized as valid spiritual supports, capable of conferring worldly auspiciousness (fame, fortune) and pointing toward transcendence beyond limited deity-identifications.

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

By highlighting concise mantra-utterances, the verse supports bhakti as steady remembrance and recitation—devotion expressed through sound (nāma/mantra) that elevates the mind from benefits toward the highest, all-transcending divine reality.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical focus is on mantra-structure and phonetic precision—counting syllables (catur-akṣara) and identifying mantras by their incipits—linking to Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (correct forms) for accurate recitation.