Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

Chandas: Varṇa-gaṇas, Guru-Laghu, Vṛtta-bheda, and Prastāra Procedures

Devanagari script

उक्तात्युक्ता तथा मध्या प्रतिष्टान्या सुपूर्विका । गायत्र्युष्णिगनुष्टष्टप्च बृहती पंक्तिरेव च ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

uktātyuktā tathā madhyā pratiṣṭānyā supūrvikā | gāyatryuṣṇiganuṣṭaṣṭapca bṛhatī paṃktireva ca || 11 ||

Translation

ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਮ ਹਨ—ਉਕਤਾਤ੍ਯੁਕਤਾ, ਮੱਧਿਆ, ਪ੍ਰਤਿਸ਼ਠਾਨ੍ਯਾ, ਸੁਪੂਰਵਿਕਾ; ਅਤੇ ਛੰਦਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਗਾਇਤ੍ਰੀ, ਉਸ਼੍ਣਿਕ, ਅਨੁਸ਼ਟੁਪ, ਬ੍ਰਿਹਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਪੰਕਤੀ ਵੀ।

Word by Word

• उक्ता: Uktā (a metre-name)
• उक्ता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त; उक्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative sg; name as feminine)

• अत्युक्ता: Atyuktā (a metre-name)
• अत्युक्ता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (prefixal); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative sg)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: समुच्चय/क्रियाविशेषण (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/conjunction): ‘likewise/and also’

• मध्या: Madhyā (a metre-name)
• मध्या: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative sg; metre-name)

• प्रतिष्टान्या: Pratiṣṭhānyā (a metre-name)
• प्रतिष्टान्या: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिष्ठान्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative sg; metre-name)

• सुपूर्विका: Supūrvikā (a metre-name)
• सुपूर्विका: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + पूर्विका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (prefixal); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative sg; metre-name)

• गायत्री: Gāyatrī
• गायत्री: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative sg; metre-name)

• उष्णिक्: Uṣṇik
• उष्णिक्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्णिक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative sg; metre-name)

• अनुष्टुप्: Anuṣṭup
• अनुष्टुप्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुष्टुप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative sg; metre-name)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• बृहती: Bṛhatī
• बृहती: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative sg; metre-name)

• पंक्तिः: Paṅkti
• पंक्तिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पंक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative sg; metre-name)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: निपात (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle: just/indeed)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to 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 emphasizes Chandas (Vedic metre) as a disciplined limb of Vedic knowledge: correct metre preserves the intended power and meaning of mantra-recitation, supporting clarity of mind and steadiness on the moksha-oriented path.

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

While technical, it supports Bhakti by showing that devotional mantra-japa and stotra-recitation are strengthened when performed with proper Vedic structure—metre becomes a form of reverent precision in worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedanga Chandas: the identification and naming of key Vedic metres such as Gāyatrī, Uṣṇik, Anuṣṭup, Bṛhatī, and Paṅkti, useful for selecting and verifying the metrical form of hymns and mantras.