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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

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

आचार्याः सममिच्छंति पदच्छेदं तु पंडिताः । स्त्रियो मधुरमिच्छंति विक्रुष्टमितरे जनाः ॥ ४६ ॥

ācāryāḥ samamicchaṃti padacchedaṃ tu paṃḍitāḥ | striyo madhuramicchaṃti vikruṣṭamitare janāḥ || 46 ||

Para ācārya menginginkan penyampaian yang rata dan terukur; para paṇḍita menginginkan pemisahan kata yang jelas; kaum wanita menginginkan kemanisan nada; sedangkan orang lain menyukai bacaan yang lantang dan kuat.

ācāryāḥteachers
ācāryāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootācārya (प्रातिपदik)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
samamevenness (the ‘sama’ quality)
samam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsama (प्रातिपदik)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular; object of ‘icchanti’
icchantidesire/prefer
icchanti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootiṣ (धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural
pada-cchedamword-segmentation
pada-cchedam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpada (प्रातिपदik) + cheda (प्रातिपदik)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘division of words’)
tubut/indeed
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात)
paṇḍitāḥlearned people
paṇḍitāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpaṇḍita (प्रातिपदik)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
striyaḥwomen
striyaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootstrī (प्रातिपदik)
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
madhuramsweetness (the ‘madhura’ quality)
madhuram:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootmadhura (प्रातिपदik)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular; object of ‘icchanti’
icchantidesire/prefer
icchanti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootiṣ (धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural
vikruṣṭamloud utterance (the ‘vikruṣṭa’ quality)
vikruṣṭam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvikruṣṭa (प्रातिपदik)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular; object of ‘icchanti’ (understood)
itareother
itare:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootitara (प्रातिपदik)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural; agrees with janāḥ
janāḥpeople
janāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootjana (प्रातिपदik)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

Narada (teaching on proper recitation and audience disposition, in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

It teaches discernment in sacred speech: different listeners seek different qualities, but the practitioner should value disciplined, intelligible recitation that supports understanding and inner steadiness—key to Moksha-oriented Dharma.

Bhakti is strengthened when recitation becomes pleasing yet clear and steady; the verse cautions that mere loudness is not devotion—devotion matures through mindful, respectful chanting that conveys meaning.

It points to Shiksha (phonetics/intonation) via “samam” and “vikruṣṭam,” and to Vyakarana-oriented practice through “padaccheda,” emphasizing correct parsing for accurate comprehension and transmission.