Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

उरः सप्तविवारं स्यात्तथा कंठस्तथा शिरः । न च शक्तोऽसि व्यक्तस्तु तथा प्रावचना विधिः ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

uraḥ saptavivāraṃ syāttathā kaṃṭhastathā śiraḥ | na ca śakto'si vyaktastu tathā prāvacanā vidhiḥ || 21 ||

Translation

Ngực có bảy lỗ mở; cổ họng cũng vậy; đầu cũng vậy. Thế nhưng ngươi vẫn không thể trình bày rõ ràng phép tắc đúng đắn của việc tụng đọc và giảng giải giáo pháp thiêng.

Word by Word

• उरः: chest
• उरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सप्त-विवारम्: having seven openings/intervals
• सप्त-विवारम्: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विवार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (सप्त विवाराणि यस्य/यत्र)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — ‘so/likewise’

• कण्ठः: throat
• कण्ठः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (and)

• शक्तः: able
• शक्तः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (addressing ‘त्वम्’)

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• व्यक्तः: distinct/clear
• व्यक्तः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• प्रावचना: pertaining to recitation/teaching
• प्रावचना: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रावचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with विधिः by sense; irregular gender agreement possible in transmission)

• विधिः: rule/procedure
• विधिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada in a teacher–disciple dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It highlights that mere physical faculties (speech organs and bodily ‘openings’) do not guarantee spiritual or scriptural mastery; true competence requires correct discipline and method (vidhi) in sacred learning and teaching.

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

By implying that devotion must be guided by right understanding and right transmission of sacred teachings; clarity in recitation and instruction supports sincere practice rather than superficial display.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Śikṣā (phonetics/pronunciation) and the broader pravacana-vidhi: rules for correct recitation, articulation, and instructional method so that meaning is conveyed accurately.