Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 61

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

आत्मनेपदिनो धातू दृङ्धृङ्द्वौ चाप्युदाहृतौ । प्रच्छादिषोडशाख्याताः परस्मैपदिनो मुने ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

ātmanepadino dhātū dṛṅdhṛṅdvau cāpyudāhṛtau | pracchādiṣoḍaśākhyātāḥ parasmaipadino mune || 61 ||

Translation

ఆత్మనేపదంలో ప్రయోగమయ్యే ధాతువులు చెప్పబడ్డాయి; అలాగే ‘దృంగ్’ ‘ధృంగ్’ అనే రెండు ధాతువులు కూడా ప్రకటించబడ్డాయి. హే మునీ! ‘ప్రచ్ఛ’ నుండి ప్రారంభమయ్యే పదహారు ధాతువులు పరస్మైపదమని బోధించబడ్డాయి।

Word by Word

• ātmanepadinaḥ: ātmanepada (middle) ones
• ātmanepadinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātmanepadin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• dhātū: two roots
• dhātū: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhātu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual (द्विवचन)

• dṛṅ: the root dṛṅ
• dṛṅ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛṅ (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (dhātu-name)

• dhṛṅ: the root dhṛṅ
• dhṛṅ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhṛṅ (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (dhātu-name)

• dvau: two
• dvau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual; numeral agreeing with dhātū

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• api: also
• api: Samuccaya/Anvaya (समुच्चय/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• udāhṛtau: are mentioned
• udāhṛtau: Karma (कर्म) / Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-ā-√hṛ (हृ धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle, Masculine, Nominative, Dual; agrees with dhātū

• pracchādi-ṣoḍaśa: sixteen (beginning with) pracchādi
• pracchādi-ṣoḍaśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pracchādi (प्रातिपदिक) + ṣoḍaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral compound qualifier: ‘pracchādi (group) sixteen’; used with plural participle

• ākhyātāḥ: are declared
• ākhyātāḥ: Karma (कर्म) / Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√khyā (ख्या धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• parasmaipadinaḥ: parasmaipada (active) ones
• parasmaipadinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parasmaipadin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

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 highlights Vedāṅga-Vyākaraṇa as a supporting limb of Vedic study: precise grammar safeguards correct mantra usage and scriptural understanding, which in turn supports dharma and the pursuit of mokṣa.

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

Indirectly: bhakti practices rely on accurate recitation and comprehension of hymns and names; this verse situates grammatical discipline as a tool that protects the integrity of devotional speech and scripture.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa (Sanskrit grammar): it classifies dhātus by verbal voice/ending—Ātmanepada versus Parasmaipada—useful for correct conjugation in study, ritual, and textual transmission.