Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

सूत्राद्या अष्ट चाप्यत्र ञ्यन्ता प्रोक्ता मनीषिभिः । धात्वर्थे प्रातिपदिकाद्वहुलं चेष्टवन्मतम् ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

sūtrādyā aṣṭa cāpyatra ñyantā proktā manīṣibhiḥ | dhātvarthe prātipadikādvahulaṃ ceṣṭavanmatam || 72 ||

Translation

یہاں اہلِ علم نے ‘سوتر’ وغیرہ سے شروع ہونے والی آٹھ ‘ञ्यन्त’ صورتیں بیان کی ہیں۔ اور دھاتُو کے معنی (عمل) میں چیشٹوت مت کے مطابق پراتیپدک سے بھی بکثرت استعمال تسلیم کیا جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• सूत्राद्याः: (those) beginning with ‘sūtra’
• सूत्राद्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सूत्र-आद्याः = starting with sūtra)

• अष्ट: eight
• अष्ट: Visheshana (विशेषण/Quantifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (संख्यावाचक), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्या-शब्दः

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• ञ्यन्ताः: ñy-ending (forms)
• ञ्यन्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ञ्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; प्रत्ययान्त-शब्दः (ending in ñy)

• प्रोक्ताः: are declared/said
• प्रोक्ताः: Karma (कर्म/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे विधेय (predicate)

• मनीषिभिः: by the sages/wise ones
• मनीषिभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• धात्वर्थे: in the sense of a verbal root
• धात्वर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (dhātu-artha = meaning of a root)

• प्रातिपदिकात्: from a nominal base (prātipadika)
• प्रातिपदिकात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रातिपदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• बहुलम्: mostly/abundantly
• बहुलम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial accusative/avyayībhāva-like usage)

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

• इष्टवत्: as desired/at will
• इष्टवत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इष्टवत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘as desired/at will’)

• मतम्: (this is) the opinion
• मतम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicative complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक; √मन्/मन् ‘to think’ से)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (predicate nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Vedanga/Vyakarana-oriented passage within Moksha Dharma discourse)

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 that disciplined understanding of śabda (language) through Vyākaraṇa supports accurate grasp of dharma and mokṣa teachings, since meaning depends on correct derivation and usage.

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

Indirectly: devotion in the Purana relies on correct recitation and comprehension of sacred names and teachings; this verse highlights grammatical precision as a support for faithful study and chanting.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa (Sanskrit grammar): it mentions ñyanta derivative formations and the principle that, in conveying verbal-root meaning, derivation/usage may occur from a nominal base (prātipadika) according to an accepted grammatical view.