Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

संबोधने च लिंगादावुक्ते कर्मणि कर्तरि । अर्थवत्प्रातिपदिकं धातुप्रत्ययवर्जितम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

saṃbodhane ca liṃgādāvukte karmaṇi kartari | arthavatprātipadikaṃ dhātupratyayavarjitam || 3 ||

Translation

സംബോധനത്തിലും ലിംഗാദി ബോധമുള്ളിടത്തും, കർമ്മമോ കർത്താവോ എന്ന അർത്ഥത്തിൽ പ്രയോഗിക്കപ്പെടുന്ന അർത്ഥവത്തായ നാമമൂലമാണ് ‘പ്രാതിപദികം’; അത് ധാതുവും പ്രത്യയവും വജ്രിതമാണ്।

Word by Word

• संबोधने: in vocative address (context of संबोधन)
• संबोधने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संबोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण-निर्देश (locative of domain)

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

• लिङ्ग-आदौ: in (the matter of) gender etc.
• लिङ्ग-आदौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (आदि-शब्दः ‘beginning’), ‘लिङ्गादि’ = gender etc.; अधिकरण-निर्देश

• उक्ते: when stated/mentioned
• उक्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), प्रथमा/सप्तमी? नपुंसक/पुं/स्त्री—सन्दर्भानुसार; here: सप्तमी एकवचन नपुंसक/पुं (locative absolute sense) ‘when stated/when mentioned’

• कर्मणि: in the object-function (karma)
• कर्मणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in the कर्म-case/usage)

• कर्तरि: in the agent (karta)
• कर्तरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in the agent-function)

• अर्थवत्-प्रातिपदिकम्: a meaningful nominal base (prātipadika)
• अर्थवत्-प्रातिपदिकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रातिपदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘अर्थवत्’ विशेषणम्)

• धातु-प्रत्यय-वर्जितम्: devoid of verbal roots and affixes
• धातु-प्रत्यय-वर्जितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रत्यय (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘धातु-प्रत्यययोः वर्जितम्’ = devoid of roots and affixes); भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) from √वर्ज्/वृज् ‘to exclude’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Vedāṅga/Vyākaraṇa context)

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 grounds spiritual study in precision: by defining prātipadika, the text highlights that correct understanding of words is essential for accurate śāstra-reading, mantra meaning, and dharma practice that supports mokṣa.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti by insisting on correct language-knowledge: devotion expressed through names, praises, and vocatives becomes clearer and more faithful to intended meaning when grammar is understood.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Vyākaraṇa: it gives a technical definition of prātipadika (nominal stem)—a meaningful base associated with gender etc., used regarding agent/object, and distinguished from roots and suffixes.