Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

ऋग्वेदस्तु द्वितीयेन तृतीयेन च वर्तते । उच्चमध्यमसंघातः स्वरो भवति पार्थिवः ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

ṛgvedastu dvitīyena tṛtīyena ca vartate | uccamadhyamasaṃghātaḥ svaro bhavati pārthivaḥ || 23 ||

Translation

Ṛgveda dilagukan dengan menggunakan nada kedua dan ketiga. Apabila pic tinggi dan pic pertengahan digabungkan, terhasillah nada muzik ‘pārthiva’ (bersifat bumi).

Word by Word

• ऋग्वेदः: the Rigveda
• ऋग्वेदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋग्वेद (प्रातिपदिक; ऋक्+वेद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ऋचां वेदः)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• द्वितीयेन: by/with the second (tone)
• द्वितीयेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तृतीयेन: by/with the third (tone)
• तृतीयेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

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

• वर्तते: exists/operates/is used
• वर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• उच्चमध्यमसंघातः: the combination of high and middle (tones)
• उच्चमध्यमसंघातः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उच्च+मध्यम+संघात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—(उच्चस्य मध्यमस्य च) संघातः (समाहार/निर्देशार्थे)

• स्वरः: a tone/accent
• स्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• पार्थिवः: earthly/pertaining to the earth (pārthiva)
• पार्थिवः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the technical science of Vedic sound/śikṣā)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ṛgveda

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that precise Vedic sound (svara) is a discipline of śikṣā; correct tonal recitation preserves mantra-power and supports dharma-oriented practice that culminates in mokṣa.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports devotional worship by insisting that Vedic hymns and praises are to be chanted with correct tones—devotion expressed through accurate sacred sound.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics): the operational use of specific tones in Ṛgvedic recitation and how combining pitches (high + middle) yields a named tonal quality (‘pārthiva’).