Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

बला चाप्यथ विज्ञेया देवानां सप्त मूर्छनाः । आप्यायिनी विश्वभृता चंद्रा हेमा कपर्दिनी ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

balā cāpyatha vijñeyā devānāṃ sapta mūrchanāḥ | āpyāyinī viśvabhṛtā caṃdrā hemā kapardinī || 36 ||

Translation

‘பலா’ முதலியவை தேவர்களின் ஏழு மூர்ச்சனைகள் என அறியப்பட வேண்டும்—ஆப்யாயினீ, விஷ்வப்ருதா, சந்த்ரா, ஹேமா, கபர்தினீ—இவை தெய்வீக ஸ்வரநடைகள்.

Word by Word

• बला: Balā (name)
• बला: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थक निपात (particle; “also”)

• अथ: then/next
• अथ: निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/प्रस्ताव-अव्यय (sequencing particle)

• विज्ञेयाः: should be known
• विज्ञेयाः: विधेय (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive; “to be known”); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (मूर्छनाः इति विशेष्येण सह)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषण; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (मूर्छनाः इति विशेष्येण सह; रूपं अव्ययवत्)

• मूर्छनाः: mūrchanās (scale-forms)
• मूर्छनाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्छना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• आप्यायिनी: Āpyāyinī (name; “nourishing”)
• आप्यायिनी: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + प्यै (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—शतृ/णिनि-प्रत्ययान्त नाम (agentive); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विश्वभृता: Viśvabhṛtā (name)
• विश्वभृता: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वभृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—विश्व + भृत् (उपपद-तत्पुरुष; “bearer of the world”)

• चंद्रा: Candrā (name)
• चंद्रा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हेमा: Hemā (name)
• हेमा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कपर्दिनी: Kapardinī (name; “with braided hair”)
• कपर्दिनी: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपर्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessor)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Moksha-Dharma/Vedic-knowledge sequence)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that sacred sound is a disciplined science: knowing the divine mūrchanās supports correct Vedic recitation, which purifies the mind and becomes an aid to Moksha-Dharma.

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

Bhakti in the Purāṇic framework is strengthened by proper praise and chanting; this verse points to the technical foundations (intonation/modes) that make hymn-singing and liturgical devotion spiritually effective.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics/recitation) and Sāma-vedic musical method: mūrchanā as structured progressions of notes/intonations used to preserve and correctly render sacred chant.