Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

त्रिसप्तति समाख्याता धातवोऽदादिके गणे । दादयो धातवो वेदाः परस्मैपदिनो मताः ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

trisaptati samākhyātā dhātavo'dādike gaṇe | dādayo dhātavo vedāḥ parasmaipadino matāḥ || 45 ||

Translation

அதாதி கணத்தில் எழுபத்துமூன்று தாதுக்கள் எண்ணப்பட்டுள்ளன. ‘தா-’ முதலிய தாதுக்கள் வேத மரபில் அறியப்பட்டவை; அவை பரஸ்மைபதமாகக் கருதப்படுகின்றன।

Word by Word

• trisaptatiḥ: seventy-three
• trisaptatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + saptati (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रि + सप्तति = 70+3 = 73)

• samākhyātāḥ: are called/declared
• samākhyātāḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ā + khyā (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/ta), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मणि—‘are named/declared’

• dhātavaḥ: roots
• dhātavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhātu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• adādike: in the adādi (class)
• adādike: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; गण-विशेषण

• gaṇe: in the group/class
• gaṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• dādayaḥ: dā and others
• dādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dā + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘दा-आदयः’ = dā and others

• dhātavaḥ: roots
• dhātavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhātu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• vedāḥ: are known/recognized
• vedāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु) + a (कृत्/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘veda’ (ज्ञात/विदित), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणार्थे—‘known/recognized’

• parasmaipadinaḥ: parasmaipada-type
• parasmaipadinaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parasmaipada + in (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• matāḥ: are considered
• matāḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/ta), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मणि—‘are considered’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical Vedanga/Vyakarana register)

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 sacred learning as disciplined knowledge: mastery of Vyākaraṇa (grammar) supports accurate mantra, śāstra study, and right understanding—tools that serve dharma and ultimately mokṣa.

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

Indirectly: bhakti relies on correct recitation and comprehension of divine names and hymns; grammatical precision (like knowing verb classes and endings) protects meaning and supports faithful worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa: classification of dhātus by gaṇa (here, Adādi) and their voice/ending behavior (Parasmaipada), a core tool for correct Sanskrit derivation and interpretation.