Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

पंचमो मध्यमः षङ्ज इत्येते ब्राह्मणाः स्मृताः । ऋषभो धैवतश्चापीत्येतौ वै क्षत्रियावुभौ ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

paṃcamo madhyamaḥ ṣaṅja ityete brāhmaṇāḥ smṛtāḥ | ṛṣabho dhaivataścāpītyetau vai kṣatriyāvubhau || 49 ||

Translation

As notas Pañcama, Madhyama e Ṣaḍja são tradicionalmente lembradas como pertencentes aos Brāhmaṇas; e Ṛṣabha e Dhaivata—estas duas—são de fato ditas pertencer aos Kṣatriyas.

Word by Word

• पञ्चमः: Pañcama
• पञ्चमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मध्यमः: Madhyama
• मध्यमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• षङ्जः: Ṣaḍja
• षङ्जः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षड्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Pratijñā/Predicate noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्मृताः: are considered/remembered
• स्मृताः: Kriyā (क्रिया; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘are remembered/counted’

• ऋषभः: Ṛṣabha
• ऋषभः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धैवतः: Dhaivata
• धैवतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) ‘also’

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक

• एतौ: these two
• एतौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• क्षत्रियौ: Kṣatriyas
• क्षत्रियौ: Pratijñā/Predicate noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण (both)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical section on Vedic/śāstric arts)

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 presents nāda (sacred sound) as an ordered, tradition-governed discipline, implying that harmony in sound reflects harmony in dharma and cultivated life.

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

Indirectly: by grounding devotional singing and recitation in correct musical knowledge (svara discipline), it supports refined kīrtana and reverent worship through properly ordered sound.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā-related precision about sound (svara), expressed through Gandharva-Veda style note taxonomy—useful for correct chanting, musical training, and structured devotional performance.