Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Nirukta, Phonetic Variants, and Vedic Dhātu–Svara Taxonomy

Devanagari script

सिद्धेद्वर्णागमाद्धंसः सिंहो वर्णविपर्ययात् । गूढोत्मा वर्णविकृतेर्वर्णनांशात्पृषोदरः ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

siddhedvarṇāgamāddhaṃsaḥ siṃho varṇaviparyayāt | gūḍhotmā varṇavikṛtervarṇanāṃśātpṛṣodaraḥ || 4 ||

Translation

“Haṃsa”（天鹅）因增添一字而得以成立；“siṃha”（狮子）由字母移位而得。 “gūḍhātmā”源于字母的变更，“pṛṣodara”则由字母的部分脱落而来——诸词即由这些语法作用而被说明。

Word by Word

• सिद्धे: in ‘siddha’
• सिद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘in (the word) siddha’

• वर्ण-आगमात्: from letter-addition
• वर्ण-आगमात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘from addition of a letter’)

• हंसः: (becomes) ‘haṃsa’
• हंसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सिंहः: (becomes) ‘siṃha’
• सिंहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वर्ण-विपर्ययात्: from letter-transposition
• वर्ण-विपर्ययात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + विपर्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘from transposition of letters’)

• गूढ-आत्मा: (becomes) ‘gūḍhātmā’
• गूढ-आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गूढ (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘one whose self is hidden’ / ‘hidden-souled’)

• वर्ण-विकृतेः: of letter-modification
• वर्ण-विकृतेः: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + विकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘of letter-modification’)

• वर्ण-नांशात्: from partial loss of letters
• वर्ण-नांशात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + नांश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘from partial loss/defect of a letter’)

• पृषोदरः: (becomes) ‘pṛṣodara’
• पृषोदरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृषोदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on Vyakarana/Śabda-śāstra)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It shows that even subtle shifts in sound (varṇa) change meaning, training the seeker in precision of speech and understanding—disciplines valued in Mokṣa-dharma because correct knowledge depends on correct words.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti by emphasizing accurate recitation and comprehension of sacred names and mantras—since a small phonetic change can alter meaning, careful śabda-prayoga safeguards devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa: derivation of words through operations like āgama (letter insertion), viparyaya (transposition), vikṛti (phonetic alteration), and nāśa/lopa (elision), illustrated with standard example-words.