Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

उपजीवंति गंधर्वा देवानां सप्त मूर्छनाः । पितॄणां मूर्च्छनाः सप्त तथा यक्षा न संशयः ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

upajīvaṃti gaṃdharvā devānāṃ sapta mūrchanāḥ | pitṝṇāṃ mūrcchanāḥ sapta tathā yakṣā na saṃśayaḥ || 40 ||

Translation

ພວກຄັນທັຣວະ (Gandharva) ດຳລົງຊີວິດໂດຍອາໄສມູຣຈະນາ 7 ຂອງເທວະ. ເຊັ່ນດຽວກັນ ມູຣຈະນາ 7 ຂອງພິຕຣຶ (Pitṛ) ກໍຄ້ຳຈຸນປະເພນີຂອງພວກເຂົາ, ແລະພວກຢັກສະ (Yakṣa) ກໍເຊັ່ນກັນ—ບໍ່ມີຄວາມສົງໄສ.

Word by Word

• उपजीवन्ति: subsist/live by
• उपजीवन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• गन्धर्वाः: Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; अव्ययवत्

• मूर्छनाः: mūrchanās
• मूर्छनाः: Karma (कर्म/उपजीव्य-वस्तु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्च्छना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पितॄणाम्: of the Pitṛs (manes)
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• मूर्छनाः: mūrchanās
• मूर्छनाः: Karta (कर्ता/विषयः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्च्छना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; अव्ययवत्

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय (adverb) ‘likewise’

• यक्षाः: Yakṣas
• यक्षाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• न: not/no
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता/विषयः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘no doubt’ इति वाक्यांशे विषय

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Moksha-Dharma context, in dialogue tradition with Sanatkumara lineages)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Gandharvas
• Devas
• Pitrs
• Yaksas

FAQs

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

It presents sacred sound—specifically the seven mūrchanās—as a sustaining principle for divine and subtle beings, implying that regulated sound (nāda) is not mere art but a dharmic force that nourishes higher orders of existence.

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

By emphasizing sacred musical modes connected to Devas and Pitṛs, it supports the bhakti idea that worship through sound—kīrtana, stotra, and disciplined singing—can align the practitioner with divine realms and devotional remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Śikṣā (phonetics/intonation) and the broader Gandharva-Veda tradition: structured scales/modes (mūrchanā) and correct sonic discipline as part of Vedic technical knowledge used in ritual and sacred performance.