Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 61

Vyākaraṇa-saṅgraha: Pada–Vibhakti–Kāraka–Lakāra–Samāsa

Devanagari script

जानुमात्रं च निर्द्धारे बहूनां च द्वयोः क्रमात् । कतमः कतरः संख्येयविशेषावधारणे ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

jānumātraṃ ca nirddhāre bahūnāṃ ca dvayoḥ kramāt | katamaḥ kataraḥ saṃkhyeyaviśeṣāvadhāraṇe || 61 ||

Translation

పరిమాణ నిర్ణయంలో ‘జానుమాత్రం’ అని అంటారు. అనేక వాటి క్రమంలోను, రెండింటి తులనాత్మక క్రమంలోను, లెక్కించదగిన ప్రత్యామ్నాయాలలో ఒక నిర్దిష్టాన్ని నిర్ణయించుటకు ‘కతమ’ ‘కతర’ అనే పదాలు వాడబడతాయి.

Word by Word

• jānu-mātram: knee-sized; as much as the knee
• jānu-mātram: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jānu (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘knee-measure’ = as much as the knee

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• nirddhāre: in (the sense of) selection/determination
• nirddhāre: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirddhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अर्थे—‘in selection/determination (of one out of many)’

• bahūnām: of many
• bahūnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• dvayoḥ: of two
• dvayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• kramāt: in order; sequentially
• kramāt: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-अर्थे तसिल्-लोपप्रायः/अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; ‘in order/according to sequence’ (ablatival sense ‘from/according to order’)

• katamaḥ: which (one) among many?
• katamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: katama (प्रातिपदिक; interrogative superlative)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक—‘which one (among many)?’

• kataraḥ: which (of two)?
• kataraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: katara (प्रातिपदिक; interrogative comparative)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक—‘which of the two?’

• saṃkhyeya-viśeṣa-avadhāraṇe: in determining a specific number
• saṃkhyeya-viśeṣa-avadhāraṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃkhyeya (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + avadhāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘in the determination (avadhāraṇa) of a specific number (saṃkhyeya-viśeṣa)’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/vedanga-style exposition)

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 emphasizes precision in śāstric language—clear determination (avadhāraṇa) of meaning supports correct understanding of Dharma and, ultimately, right knowledge conducive to Moksha.

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

Indirectly: Bhakti traditions rely on accurate transmission of mantras, names, and teachings; this verse highlights the grammatical clarity needed to preserve and interpret devotional instructions without ambiguity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa (Sanskrit grammar): it notes usage principles for measurement-terms (like ‘jānumātra’) and for selection among alternatives using katama (among many) and katara (among two).