Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

सममर्द्धसमं वृत्तं विषमं चापि नारद । तुल्यलक्षणतः पादचतुष्के सममुच्यते ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

samamarddhasamaṃ vṛttaṃ viṣamaṃ cāpi nārada | tulyalakṣaṇataḥ pādacatuṣke samamucyate || 7 ||

Translation

हे नारद, वृत्तानि सममर्द्धसमं विषमं चेति त्रिविधानि। यत्र पादचतुष्के तुल्यलक्षणता भवति, तत् ‘सम’ इति कथ्यते॥

Word by Word

• सममर्द्धसमम्: equal in (all) halves; having equal hemistichs
• सममर्द्धसमम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम + अर्द्ध + सम (प्रातिपदिक; सममर्द्धसम- इति समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc sg; adjectival)

• वृत्तम्: metre
• वृत्तम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative sg)

• विषमम्: unequal/irregular
• विषमम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc sg; adjectival)

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-शब्दः (particle: also/even)

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Vocative sg)

• तुल्यलक्षणतः: by (their) equal characteristics
• तुल्यलक्षणतः: हेतु/प्रकार (Reason/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तुल्य + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; तुल्यलक्षण- इति समास) + तस् (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिलन्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘-तः’ = ‘from/according to’; अर्थे—लक्षणसाम्येन (by equality of characteristics)

• पादचतुष्के: in the set of four pādas (quarters)
• पादचतुष्के: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद + चतुष्क (प्रातिपदिक; पादचतुष्क- इति समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative sg)

• समम्: as ‘sama’ (equal)
• समम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc sg; predicative adjective)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Present indicative, 3rd sg; passive)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It frames sacred learning as disciplined knowledge: mastering Chandas (prosody) preserves the accurate form of mantra and śāstra, supporting right study that ultimately serves mokṣa-oriented understanding.

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

Indirectly: precise metre safeguards correct recitation and transmission of hymns and Purāṇic teachings, which sustains devotional listening (śravaṇa) and chanting (kīrtana) without distortion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Chandas: it defines the ‘sama’ class of vṛtta—where all four pādas have identical metrical features—alongside the broader categories ardhasama and viṣama.