Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

अमादयः समुद्दिष्टाश्चतुर्स्रिंशद्धिशाब्दिकैः । द्विसप्ततिमिता मव्यमुखाश्चोदात्तबंधना ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

amādayaḥ samuddiṣṭāścatursriṃśaddhiśābdikaiḥ | dvisaptatimitā mavyamukhāścodāttabaṃdhanā || 24 ||

Translation

“അമാ-” മുതലായ ശ്രേണി ശാബ്ദികർ നിർദ്ദേശിച്ചതാണ്—എണ്ണത്തിൽ മുപ്പത്തിരണ്ട്. ധ്വനിശാസ്ത്രത്തിലെ പാരിഭാഷിക പദങ്ങളാൽ ഇത് നിരൂപിതം; ഇതിന്റെ പരിമാണം എഴുപത്തിരണ്ട്, ‘മ’ അക്ഷരത്തോടെ ആരംഭിച്ച്, ഉദാത്ത (ഉയർന്ന സ്വരം) ബന്ധനത്തോട് ചേർന്നിരിക്കുന്നു॥২৪॥

Word by Word

• अमादयः: the group beginning with am-
• अमादयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम् + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अमः आदयः)

• समुद्दिष्टाः: are enumerated/indicated
• समुद्दिष्टाः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उद् + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि—‘सम्यक् निर्दिष्टाः’

• चतुस्त्रिंशत्: thirty-four
• चतुस्त्रिंशत्: Visheshya-Sankhya (संख्या/Count)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुस्त्रिंशत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संख्यावाचकः द्विगु-समासः (चतुः + त्रिंशत्)

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

• शाब्दिकैः: by grammarians
• शाब्दिकैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाब्दिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण

• द्विसप्तति-मिताः: numbering seventy-two
• द्विसप्तति-मिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विसप्तति (प्रातिपदिक) + मा (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘मित’ = measured/numbering; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—द्विसप्ततिपरिमाणाः

• मव्य-मुखाः: those beginning with mavy(a)-
• मव्य-मुखाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मव्य + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मव्यस्य मुखाः/आदयः)

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

• उदात्त-बंधनाः: having udātta as the marker/binding sign
• उदात्त-बंधनाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदात्त (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—उदात्तं बन्धनं (it-marker/indicator) येषाम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It highlights that correct Vedic sound—count, measure, and accent (udātta)—is treated as a disciplined sacred science, supporting purity of mantra-recitation that ultimately aids dharma and inner steadiness conducive to moksha.

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

While technical, it indirectly supports bhakti by emphasizing precise mantra and sacred sound; disciplined recitation and faithful adherence to śāstric rules are portrayed as a devotional offering performed with care.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics): the use of technical terms, numerical classification (32 and 72 measures), and the role of the udātta accent in correct Vedic chanting.