Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Anūcāna (True Learning), the Vedāṅgas, and Śikṣā: Svara, Sāmavedic Chant, and Gandharva Theory

Devanagari script

आर्चिकं गाथिकं चैव सामिकं च स्वरान्तरम् । कृतांते स्वरशास्त्राणां प्रयोक्तव्य विशेषतः ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

ārcikaṃ gāthikaṃ caiva sāmikaṃ ca svarāntaram | kṛtāṃte svaraśāstrāṇāṃ prayoktavya viśeṣataḥ || 16 ||

Translation

Pada bahagian penutup (sesuatu upacara atau bacaan), hendaklah diterapkan dengan khusus disiplin ilmu nada: lantunan gaya Ṛk (ārcika), bacaan gaya gāthā (gāthika), nyanyian gaya Sāman (sāmika), serta peralihan nada yang tepat (svarāntara).

Word by Word

• आर्चिकम्: (accent) of Ṛg-vedic recitation
• आर्चिकम्: Karma (कर्म; as item enumerated)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्चिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (ellipsis: स्वरान्तरम्)

• गाथिकम्: (accent) of gāthā/metrical chant
• गाथिकम्: Karma (कर्म; enumerated item)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गाथिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• सामिकम्: (accent) of Sāma-vedic chant
• सामिकम्: Karma (कर्म; enumerated item)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सामिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• स्वरान्तरम्: difference/interval of accents
• स्वरान्तरम्: Karma (कर्म; object of implied ‘know/apply’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वरान्तर (प्रातिपदिक: स्वर + अन्तर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृतान्ते: in the end/at the conclusion
• कृतान्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृतान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• स्वरशास्त्राणाम्: of the treatises on accent
• स्वरशास्त्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वरशास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक: स्वर + शास्त्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• प्रयोक्तव्यम्: should be employed/applied
• प्रयोक्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया; obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + युज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-तव्यत् (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विध्यर्थ (to be applied)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Prakara (प्रकार/Adverbial manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतस् (अव्यय; विशेष + तस्)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; instructional tone)

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 emphasizes that spiritual efficacy in mantra and rite depends not only on meaning but also on precise sound—proper Vedic tone (svara) and its transitions—especially at the concluding segment where the rite is sealed.

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

It frames devotion as disciplined worship: offering reverence through accurate sacred recitation. Correct chanting becomes a form of bhakti by honoring the revealed sound-form of the Veda.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedāṅga phonetics): the verse points to applied rules of Vedic accent/intonation—chant modes (ārcika, sāmika) and tonal intervals (svarāntara)—as essential practical know-how for ritual recitation.