Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 85

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

Devanagari script

तस्मै वाकर्मकाद्विप्र भावे कर्तरि कीर्तितः । फलव्यापरयोरेकनिष्टतायामकर्मकः ॥ ८५ ॥

Transliteration

tasmai vākarmakādvipra bhāve kartari kīrtitaḥ | phalavyāparayorekaniṣṭatāyāmakarmakaḥ || 85 ||

Translation

അതുകൊണ്ട് ഹേ വിപ്രാ, ഭാവമോ കർത്താവോ പ്രസ്താവിക്കുമ്പോൾ ഫലവും വ്യാപാരവും ഒരേ ആശ്രയത്തിൽ നിഷ്ഠിതമായാൽ ആ ധാതു ‘അകർമക’മെന്നു കീര്ത്തിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• tasmai: to him/for that (reason)
• tasmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (Dative); एकवचन

• akarmakāt: from an intransitive (root)
• akarmakāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-karmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (नञ्-तत्पुरुष: अ + कर्मक); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

• vipra: O brāhmaṇa
• vipra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

• bhāve: in bhāva (action/state) sense
• bhāve: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

• kartari: in the agent (kartṛ) sense
• kartari: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

• kīrtitaḥ: is declared/said
• kīrtitaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kīrt (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

• phala-vyāparayoḥ: of result and activity
• phala-vyāparayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक) + vyāpāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—द्वन्द्व (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व-प्राय); षष्ठी-विभक्तिः; द्विवचन/बहुवचन-रूपेण (Genitive dual form -yoḥ)

• ekaniṣṭatāyām: when there is resting in one (single locus)
• ekaniṣṭatāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + niṣṭatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: एक + निष्ठता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

• akarmakaḥ: (the root) is intransitive
• akarmakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-karmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (नञ्-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on Vyakarana principles)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It safeguards correct understanding of śāstra by defining when a verb is akarmaka; precise grammar supports accurate transmission of dharma and mokṣa teachings.

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

Indirectly: by clarifying linguistic meaning, it prevents misreading of bhakti-oriented injunctions and praises in scripture, ensuring devotion is grounded in correct śāstric comprehension.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Vyākaraṇa: the criterion for an intransitive verb—when both the action-process (vyāpāra) and its result (phala) inhere in the same locus, so no separate object is required.