Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

Chandas: Varṇa-gaṇas, Guru-Laghu, Vṛtta-bheda, and Prastāra Procedures

Devanagari script

एकाक्षरात्समारभ्य वर्णैकैकस्य वृद्धितः । षड्विंशत्यक्षरं यावत्पादस्तावत्पृथक् पृथक् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

ekākṣarātsamārabhya varṇaikaikasya vṛddhitaḥ | ṣaḍviṃśatyakṣaraṃ yāvatpādastāvatpṛthak pṛthak || 9 ||

Translation

ایک حرف سے آغاز کرکے، ہر بار ایک حرف بڑھاتے ہوئے، چھبیس حروف تک جتنے بھی پاد ممکن ہوں—ہر پاد کو الگ الگ ترتیب سے بیان کرنا چاہیے۔

Word by Word

• एकाक्षरात्: from one syllable
• एकाक्षरात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक; एकाक्षर- इति समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Ablative sg); द्विगु-समास

• समारभ्य: starting (from)
• समारभ्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + आ + रभ् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त अव्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having begun/starting’

• वर्णैकैकस्य: of each single syllable/sound
• वर्णैकैकस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण + एक + एक (प्रातिपदिक; वर्णैकैक- इति समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Genitive sg)

• वृद्धितः: by increment/increasingly
• वृद्धितः: हेतु/प्रकार (Reason/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिलन्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘by increase/according to increase’

• षड्विंशत्यक्षरम्: up to twenty-six syllables
• षड्विंशत्यक्षरम्: अवधि (Limit/Extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षड्विंशति + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक; षड्विंशत्यक्षर- इति समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative sg); द्विगु-समास (numeral compound)

• यावत्: up to/as far as
• यावत्: अवधि (Limit marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/सम्बन्धशब्द)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative): ‘as far as/up to’

• पादः: a pāda (quarter-verse)
• पादः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative sg)

• तावत्: that many/so far
• तावत्: परिमाण (Measure)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय/सम्बन्धशब्द)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative): ‘so much/that far’

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘separately’

• पृथक्: each separately
• पृथक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on technical enumeration/structure of verse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined speech and precise recitation—an aspect of Vedic self-purification—by teaching systematic control over syllables and meter.

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

Bhakti is strengthened when praise, stotra, and mantra are recited correctly; this verse supports devotion by grounding it in accurate śabda (sacred sound) practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Chandas and Śikṣā: counting syllables in a pāda and arranging metrical units step-by-step for correct chanting and composition.