Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

लोकृपूर्वा द्विचत्वारिंशदुक्ता च ह्यात्मने पदे । उदात्तेतरतु पंचाशत्फक्काद्याः परिकीर्तिताः ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

lokṛpūrvā dvicatvāriṃśaduktā ca hyātmane pade | udāttetaratu paṃcāśatphakkādyāḥ parikīrtitāḥ || 21 ||

Translation

‘ലോകൃ-’ കൊണ്ട് ആരംഭിക്കുന്ന ആത്മനേപദി രൂപങ്ങൾ നാല്പത്തിരണ്ട് എന്ന് പറയപ്പെടുന്നു. കൂടാതെ ഉദാത്തവും മറ്റു സ്വരഭേദങ്ങളും സംബന്ധിച്ച് ‘ഫക്ക-’ മുതലായവ അമ്പത് ആയി പരികീർത്തിതമാണ്॥२१॥

Word by Word

• लो-कृ-पूर्वाः: beginning with (the roots) lo, kṛ, etc.
• लो-कृ-पूर्वाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लो (धातु √लू/√लु?; उदाहरण-धातु) + कृ (धातु √कृ) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—(लो-कृ) इत्यादि-पूर्वाः = ‘लो, कृ इत्यादि से पूर्व/आरम्भ’ (उद्धरण-आधारित तत्पुरुष); ‘(धातवः)’ इत्यध्याहार्य

• द्वि-चत्वारिंशत्-उक्ताः: are said to be forty-two
• द्वि-चत्वारिंशत्-उक्ताः: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या) + चत्वारिंशत् (संख्या) + उक्त (√वच् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (42) + ‘उक्त’ (PPP) = ‘said to be forty-two’

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

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• आत्मने: in ātmanepada
• आत्मने: Nirdeshaka (निर्देशक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आत्मने (पद-निर्देश/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनेपद-निर्देश (pada-designator)

• पदे: in the pada/voice
• पदे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• उदात्त-इतर-तु: but (those) other than udātta
• उदात्त-इतर-तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle phrase)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उदात्त (प्रातिपदिक) + इतर (प्रातिपदिक) + तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; ‘उदात्त-इतर’ = ‘उदात्त से भिन्न’ (तत्पुरुष), ‘तु’ = अव्यय निपात (contrast)

• पञ्चाशत्: fifty
• पञ्चाशत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/number)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चाशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; संख्या-शब्द (50)

• फक्क-आद्याः: beginning with (the root) phakka
• फक्क-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फक्क (प्रातिपदिक/उदाहरण-धातु) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—फक्क इत्यादयः तत्पुरुष; ‘(धातवः)’ इत्यध्याहार्य

• परिकीर्तिताः: are proclaimed/are enumerated
• परिकीर्तिताः: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-√कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

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 emphasizes that liberation-oriented practice (mokṣa-dharma) still depends on precision in Vedic learning—correct grammatical forms and Vedic accents protect the integrity of mantra and śruti-recitation.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports devotional life by insisting on accurate chanting and recitation—sound, accent, and form are part of disciplined worship that sustains Viṣṇu-bhakti and Vedic rites.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga knowledge of Vyākaraṇa (Ātmanepada classifications) and Śikṣā (udātta and other accent categories), presented as counted technical lists for correct usage in recitation and instruction.