Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

पंचमो धैवतश्चैवं निषादः सप्तमः स्वरः । षड्जमध्यमगांधारास्त्रयो ग्रामाः प्रकीर्तिताः ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

paṃcamo dhaivataścaivaṃ niṣādaḥ saptamaḥ svaraḥ | ṣaḍjamadhyamagāṃdhārāstrayo grāmāḥ prakīrtitāḥ || 32 ||

Translation

Do mesmo modo, a quinta nota é dhaivata, e niṣāda é a sétima nota. Proclamam-se três grāmas: Ṣaḍja, Madhyama e Gāndhāra.

Word by Word

• पञ्चमः: Pañcama
• पञ्चमः: कर्ता (समुच्चित-कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• धैवतः: Dhaivata
• धैवतः: कर्ता (समुच्चित-कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण/सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: thus)

• निषादः: Niṣāda
• निषादः: कर्ता (समुच्चित-कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निषाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सप्तमः: seventh
• सप्तमः: विशेषण (स्वर-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्वरः: note/tone
• स्वरः: कर्ता (समुच्चित-कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• षड्जमध्यमगान्धाराः: Ṣaḍja, Madhyama, and Gāndhāra (as names)
• षड्जमध्यमगान्धाराः: विशेषण (ग्राम-विशेषण/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षड्ज + मध्यम + गान्धार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व—षड्जः मध्यमः गान्धारः (त्रयः)

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: विशेषण (ग्राम-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• ग्रामाः: grāmas (scale-systems)
• ग्रामाः: कर्ता (कर्ता/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• प्रकीर्तिताः: are proclaimed/declared
• प्रकीर्तिताः: क्रिया/विधेय (predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मणि—‘प्रकीर्तिताः (सन्ति)’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on technical knowledge of sound/notes as part of sacred learning)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It frames sound (svara) as an ordered, knowable discipline—implying that correct tonal knowledge supports purity in chanting, recitation, and sacred learning, which are aids in Moksha-oriented practice.

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

While not directly teaching devotion, it supports Bhakti indirectly by emphasizing correct sound-structure; accurate notes and tonal frameworks help preserve the integrity of hymns and names used in devotional singing and recitation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā-related technical knowledge of svaras (notes) and grāmas (tonal systems/scale frameworks), useful for proper chanting, musical rendering of stotras, and disciplined oral transmission.