Shloka 19

Devanagari script

अरुंधती यथा स्त्रीणां शस्त्राणां कुलिशं यथा । अकारः सर्ववर्णानां गायत्री छंदसां यथा ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

aruṃdhatī yathā strīṇāṃ śastrāṇāṃ kuliśaṃ yathā | akāraḥ sarvavarṇānāṃ gāyatrī chaṃdasāṃ yathā || 19 ||

Translation

స్త్రీలలో అరుంధతి శ్రేష్ఠమైనట్లే, ఆయుధాలలో కులిశం (వజ్రం) శ్రేష్ఠమైనట్లే; అక్షరాలలో ‘అ’ ప్రధానమైనట్లే, ఛందస్సులలో గాయత్రీ ప్రధానమైనట్లే; అలాగే ఆ పరమ తత్త్వం సర్వోన్నతం।

Word by Word

• अरुन्धती: Aruṇdhatī
• अरुन्धती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरुन्धती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• शस्त्राणाम्: of weapons
• शस्त्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• कुलिशम्: thunderbolt (vajra)
• कुलिशम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलिश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक

• अकारः: the letter ‘a’
• अकारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्ववर्णानाम्: of all letters/sounds
• सर्ववर्णानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां वर्णानाम्)

• गायत्री: Gāyatrī (metre)
• गायत्री: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• छन्दसाम्: of metres
• छन्दसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक

Speaker

Narada (as narrator/teacher within the Uttara-Bhaga discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Arundhati
• Gayatri

FAQs

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

The verse teaches a hierarchy of excellence through well-known exemplars: as certain ideals are ‘foremost’ in their domains, so the foundational sound ‘A’ and the Gāyatrī metre are presented as primary supports for Vedic speech and sacred recitation.

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

By highlighting Gāyatrī as foremost among metres, the verse implicitly elevates disciplined mantra-recitation and reverent Vedic chanting—core devotional practices that purify the mind and steady devotion toward the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Vedāṅga Chandas (Vedic metre) via ‘Gāyatrī’ and to Śikṣā/phonetics via the primacy of ‘akāra’, emphasizing correct sound, metre, and recitation as practical foundations of Vedic study and ritual.