Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

घुषिराद्या उदात्ततोऽष्टाशीतिर्धातवो मताः । द्युताद्या अनुदात्तेतो द्वाविंशतिरतो मताः ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

ghuṣirādyā udāttato'ṣṭāśītirdhātavo matāḥ | dyutādyā anudātteto dvāviṃśatirato matāḥ || 26 ||

Translation

自以“ghuṣira”为首的一组起，八十八个动词根被认为具 udātta（高声调）。自以“dyut”为首的一组起，二十二个动词根被认为具 anudātta（低声调）。

Word by Word

• घुषिराद्याः: the group beginning with ghuṣira-
• घुषिराद्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घुषिर + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (घुषिरस्य आदयः)

• उदात्ततः: as udātta(-it)
• उदात्ततः: Hetu/Prakara (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उदात्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb); अर्थः—‘उदात्तत्वेन/उदात्त-इट्-सम्बन्धेन’

• अष्टाशीतिḥ: eighty-eight
• अष्टाशीतिḥ: Visheshya-Sankhya (संख्या/Count)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टाशीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संख्यावाचकः (अष्ट + अशीति)

• धातवः: roots
• धातवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मताः: are considered
• मताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि—‘मताः/सम्भाविताः/स्वीकृताः’

• द्युताद्याः: the group beginning with dyut-
• द्युताद्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्युत् + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्युतः आदयः)

• अनुदात्त-इताः: having anudātta as it-marker
• अनुदात्त-इताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुदात्त (प्रातिपदिक) + इ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अनुदात्त-इट् युक्ताः

• द्वाविंशतिः: twenty-two
• द्वाविंशतिः: Visheshya-Sankhya (संख्या/Count)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वाविंशति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संख्यावाचकः (द्वा + विंशति)

• अतः: therefore/here
• अतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/particle); अर्थः—‘अस्मात् कारणात्/अत्र’ (contextually: ‘here/therefore’)

• मताः: are considered
• मताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that correct Vedic knowledge includes precise śabda (sound) discipline—especially svara (accent)—since accurate recitation safeguards the intended meaning and efficacy of sacred learning.

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

While technical, it supports bhakti indirectly: devotion expressed through mantra, stotra, and Vedic recitation becomes sound and reliable when one preserves the proper accents taught in Vedanga traditions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar): it presents a traditional listing of dhātus categorized by Vedic accent—udātta and anudātta—used to ensure correct pronunciation and derivation.