Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

भूर्ल्लोकाज्जायते षड्जो भुवर्लोकाञ्च मध्यमः । स्वर्गाभ्राच्चैव गांधारो ग्रामस्थानानि त्रीणि हि ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

bhūrllokājjāyate ṣaḍjo bhuvarlokāñca madhyamaḥ | svargābhrāccaiva gāṃdhāro grāmasthānāni trīṇi hi || 33 ||

Translation

จากภูรโลกบังเกิดเสียง “ษัฑชะ (Ṣaḍja)”, จากภุวรโลกบังเกิด “มัธยมะ (Madhyama)”; และจากสวรรค์ (Svarga) บังเกิด “คันธาระ (Gāndhāra)”. ทั้งสามนี้แลเป็น “ครามสถาน (grāma-sthāna)” อันเป็นรากฐานแห่งสังคีตะ.

Word by Word

• भूर्लोकात्: from Bhūrloka (earth-world)
• भूर्लोकात्: अपादान (Ablative source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूर्लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; समासः—भूः + लोकः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/निर्धारणार्थे)

• जायते: arises/is produced
• जायते: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगः—“is born/arises”

• षड्जः: the note Ṣaḍja
• षड्जः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षड्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• भुवर्लोकात्: from Bhuvarloka
• भुवर्लोकात्: अपादान (Ablative source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुवर्लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; समासः—भुवः + लोकः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मध्यमः: the note Madhyama
• मध्यमः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• स्वर्गाभ्रात्: from the heavenly cloud
• स्वर्गाभ्रात्: अपादान (Ablative source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्गाभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; समासः—स्वर्ग + अभ्र (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष; “heaven-cloud”)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• गान्धारः: the note Gāndhāra
• गान्धारः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्धार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• ग्रामस्थानानि: the grāma-positions (grāma-locations)
• ग्रामस्थानानि: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रामस्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; समासः—ग्राम + स्थान (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; “places of grāma”)

• त्रीणि: three
• त्रीणि: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; causal/emphatic)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Bhūrloka
• Bhuvarloka
• Svarga

FAQs

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

It links musical sound (nāda) with the cosmic order of the three worlds, implying that disciplined sound—like mantra, chant, and sacred music—reflects and harmonizes with reality, supporting inner steadiness conducive to mokṣa.

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

By presenting notes as arising from cosmic realms, the verse elevates devotional singing and recitation as more than art—bhakti through kīrtana becomes participation in a sacred, world-sustaining vibration.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Śikṣā (phonetics/intonation) and the technical science of sound akin to Gandharva-veda: correct pitch and tonal foundations (grāma-sthāna) are treated as structured knowledge, not improvisation.