Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

एधाद्या आत्मनेभाषा उदात्ताः षट्त्रिंशसंख्यकाः । अतादयोऽष्टत्रिंशञ्च परस्मैपदिनो मुने ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

edhādyā ātmanebhāṣā udāttāḥ ṣaṭtriṃśasaṃkhyakāḥ | atādayo'ṣṭatriṃśañca parasmaipadino mune || 20 ||

Translation

ഹേ മുനേ! ‘ഏധ്’ മുതലായ ആത്മനേപദി ധാതുക്കളുടെ വിഭാഗം ഉദാത്തചിഹ്നിതമായി മുപ്പത്താറ് എണ്ണം; ‘അതാ’ മുതലായ പരസ്മൈപദി ധാതുക്കൾ മുപ്പത്തെട്ട് എന്നും പറയപ്പെടുന്നു॥२०॥

Word by Word

• एध-आद्याः: beginning with √edh
• एध-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एध (धातु √एध्) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—एध इत्यादयः (उद्धरण-आदि) तत्पुरुष; ‘(धातवः)’ इत्यध्याहार्य

• आत्मने-भाषाः: ātmanepada (middle) forms
• आत्मने-भाषाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मने (अव्यय/पद-निर्देश) + भाषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—आत्मनेपदे भाषा इति तत्पुरुष; ‘आत्मने’ = आत्मनेपद-निर्देश

• उदात्ताः: with udātta accent
• उदात्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदात्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘आत्मने-भाषाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• षट्-त्रिंशत्-संख्यकाः: numbering thirty-six
• षट्-त्रिंशत्-संख्यकाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या) + त्रिंशत् (संख्या) + संख्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (36-numbered)

• अत-आदयः: beginning with √at
• अत-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अत (धातु √अत्/उदाहरण-धातु) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—अत इत्यादयः तत्पुरुष; ‘(धातवः)’ इत्यध्याहार्य

• अष्ट-त्रिंशत्: thirty-eight
• अष्ट-त्रिंशत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/number)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या) + त्रिंशत् (संख्या)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (त्रिंशत्-आधार), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; संख्या-शब्द (38)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• परस्मैपदिनः: parasmaipada (active)
• परस्मैपदिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परस्मैपदिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘(धातवः)’ इत्यध्याहार्य

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It underscores that mastery of Vedāṅga knowledge—especially Vyākaraṇa and accent—supports precise Vedic recitation and correct understanding, which are treated as aids to dharma and ultimately mokṣa.

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

Indirectly: accurate grammar and pronunciation preserve mantra integrity, which strengthens disciplined worship and scriptural study—foundational supports for steady Viṣṇu-bhakti in the Purāṇic framework.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa and Śikṣā: the verse lists counts of dhātu-groups classified by voice (Ātmanepada/Parasmaipada) and marked accent (udātta), reflecting technical rules used in correct derivation and recitation.