Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

ष्टुञेकस्तु समा ख्यातः स्मृते नारद शाब्दिकैः ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

ṣṭuñekastu samā khyātaḥ smṛte nārada śābdikaiḥ || 40 ||

Translation

Hỡi Nārada, trong truyền thống của các nhà ngữ pháp, theo Smṛti, người ta ghi nhớ và biết rõ rằng dạng gọi là “ṣṭuñeka” tương đương với “samā”, tức một năm.

Word by Word

• ष्टुञ्-एकः: the single root ‘ṣṭuñ’
• ष्टुञ्-एकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ष्टुञ् (धातु) + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (एकः ष्टुञ्-नामकः)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• समाख्यातः: is declared
• समाख्यातः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ख्या (धातु) → समाख्यात (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्तः (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्मृते: in the Smṛti (tradition)
• स्मृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘in the Smṛti/tradition’

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• शाब्दिकैः: by grammarians
• शाब्दिकैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाब्दिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada in a technical/śāstra explanation)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It shows that even in Mokṣa-dharma discussions, precise śāstric language matters—right understanding of terms (śabda) supports right understanding of dharma and practice.

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

Indirectly: bhakti practice often depends on correct observance of time (vratas, worship cycles). The verse anchors a time-meaning through śābdika tradition, helping devotees follow disciplines accurately.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa/Śabda-śāstra: it preserves technical definitions and synonymy (here, a term equated with ‘one year’), which is useful for interpreting ritual and dharma passages.