Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

तत्करोति तदाचष्टे हेतुमत्यपि णिर्मतः । धात्वर्थे कर्तृकरणाञ्चित्राद्याश्चापि धातवः ॥ ७३ ॥

Transliteration

tatkaroti tadācaṣṭe hetumatyapi ṇirmataḥ | dhātvarthe kartṛkaraṇāñcitrādyāścāpi dhātavaḥ || 73 ||

Translation

‘ಅದು ಅದನ್ನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆ’ ‘ಅದು ಅದನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಸುತ್ತದೆ’—ಹೀಗೆ ಹೇತುಮತಿ (ಪ್ರೇರಣಾರ್ಥ) ಇದ್ದರೂ ಧಾತುವಿನ ಲಕ್ಷಣ ನಿರ್ಧರಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಧಾತ್ವರ್ಥದಲ್ಲಿ ಕರ್ತೃ‑ಕರಣ ಪ್ರಧಾನವಾದವುಗಳೂ, ‘ಚಿತ್ರ’ ಮೊದಲಾದ ವೈವಿಧ್ಯಮಯ ಧಾತುಗಳೂ ಇವೆ.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• करोति: does/makes
• करोति: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आचष्टे: tells/declares
• आचष्टे: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• हेतुमति: in the causative sense (having a cause)
• हेतुमति: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेतुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying domain)

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

• णिः: the affix ‘ṇi’ (causative marker)
• णिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: णि (प्रत्यय/अव्ययवत्-उल्लेख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रत्यय-नाम (causative affix ‘ṇi’)

• मतः: is considered/held (to be)
• मतः: Karma (कर्म/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• धात्वर्थे: in the sense of a root
• धात्वर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• कर्तृकरणात्: from (the notions of) agent and instrument
• कर्तृकरणात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ + करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (agent-and-instrument)

• चित्राद्याः: (those) beginning with ‘citra’
• चित्राद्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (beginning with ‘citra’)

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

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

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical exposition aligned with Vyakarana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It frames precise speech (śabda) and correct understanding of action (karma) through Vyākaraṇa: knowing how roots convey agency and means supports clarity in dharma-practice and removes confusion that obstructs mokṣa-oriented discernment.

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

Indirectly: Bhakti is strengthened when scripture is understood without distortion. This verse emphasizes disciplined interpretation of words (dhātu-artha, causative sense), which protects devotional teachings from misreading.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa (grammar): classification of verbal-root meanings, including causative (hetumati) formation and how roots can denote agent (kartṛ) and instrument (karaṇa) as part of semantic analysis.