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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

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

स्वरः प्रधानः शिक्षायां कीर्त्तितो मुनिभिर्दिजैः । वेदानां वेदविद्भिस्तु तच्छृणुष्व वदामि ते ॥ १५ ॥

svaraḥ pradhānaḥ śikṣāyāṃ kīrttito munibhirdijaiḥ | vedānāṃ vedavidbhistu tacchṛṇuṣva vadāmi te || 15 ||

ในศิกษาศาสตร์ ‘สวระ’ คือเสียงวรรณยุกต์/ทำนอง ถูกเหล่ามุนีและทวิชบัณฑิตยกย่องว่าเป็นประธาน ดังนั้นจงฟังเถิด เราจักกล่าวแก่ท่านตามที่ผู้รู้พระเวทสอนไว้เกี่ยวกับพระเวททั้งหลาย

स्वरःaccent/tone
स्वरः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootस्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
प्रधानःprimary/chief
प्रधानः:
Karta (कर्ता; adjectival)
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (to स्वरः)
शिक्षायाम्in Śikṣā (phonetics)
शिक्षायाम्:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootशिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन
कीर्तितःis proclaimed
कीर्तितः:
Kriya (क्रिया; participial predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootकीर्तय् (धातु; कीर्त् + णिच्)
Formकृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थ ‘is declared’
मुनिभिःby sages
मुनिभिः:
Karana (करण; agent/instrument in passive)
TypeNoun
Rootमुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन
द्विजैःby the twice-born
द्विजैः:
Karana (करण; agent/instrument in passive)
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
वेदानाम्of the Vedas
वेदानाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootवेद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
वेदविद्भिःby knowers of the Vedas
वेदविद्भिः:
Karana (करण; agent/instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootवेदविद् (प्रातिपदिक: वेद + विद्)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
तुindeed/but
तु:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle; contrast/emphasis)
तत्that (teaching)
तत्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
शृणुष्वlisten
शृणुष्व:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (धातु)
Formलोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
वदामिI say/tell
वदामि:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवद् (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
तेto you
ते:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
TypeNoun
Rootयुष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/Śikṣā context)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

It emphasizes that spiritual efficacy and fidelity of Vedic mantras depend on correct tonal accent (svara); Śikṣā safeguards the mantra so its intended meaning and ritual/spiritual power are preserved.

While not directly preaching bhakti, it supports devotional practice by insisting that sacred sound be honored through proper chanting—disciplined recitation becomes a form of reverence that strengthens worship and mantra-based devotion.

Śikṣā Vedāṅga—specifically the rule that svara (udātta/anudātta/svarita accents) is primary in Vedic recitation, guiding how mantras must be voiced for accurate transmission and ritual correctness.