Nārada Bhakti Sūtras / Defining the love (प्रेम) / 51
51
the Nārada Bhakti Sūtras (नारद भक्ति सूत्रस्)
caturtho 'dhyāyaḥ premanirvacanamअnirvacanīyaṃ premasvarūpam
The line
Fourth chapter, the defining of love. The own form of love cannot be put into words.
नेपालीमा
चौथो अध्याय प्रेमको निर्वचन हो। प्रेमको आफ्नै रूप वचनले भनिँदैन।
Where it sits
This opens the chapter on defining the love. The chapter name is the name in the Sanskrit Documents text, premanirvacanam, and that name is printed in the line.
Split: caturthaḥ (चतुर्थः) + adhyāyaḥ (अध्यायः) + premanirvacanam (प्रेमनिर्वचनम्) + anirvacanīyam (अनिर्वचनीयम्) + premasvarūpam (प्रेमस्वरूपम्)
Sanskrit, in depth
The words
| Word | Grammar | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| caturthaḥ (चतुर्थः) | nominative singular, masculine | fourth. Recited caturtho (चतुर्थो) before the vowel. |
| adhyāyaḥ (अध्यायः) | nominative singular, masculine | chapter. The avagraha stands where a (अ) dropped. |
| premanirvacanam (प्रेमनिर्वचनम्) | nominative singular, neuter | the defining of love. preman (प्रेमन्) plus nirvacana (निर्वचन). The chapter name, closed in the file with a halant. |
| anirvacanīyam (अनिर्वचनीयम्) | nominative singular, neuter | not to be put into words. Agrees with premasvarūpam (प्रेमस्वरूपम्). |
| premasvarūpam (प्रेमस्वरूपम्) | nominative singular, neuter | the own form of love. preman (प्रेमन्) plus svarūpa (स्वरूप). |
The phrases
The chapter title is caturthaḥ (चतुर्थः) adhyāyaḥ (अध्यायः) plus the name premanirvacanam (प्रेमनिर्वचनम्). The sūtra (सूत्र) itself is two nominatives and no verb: premasvarūpam (प्रेमस्वरूपम्) is anirvacanīyam (अनिर्वचनीयम्).
Sanskrit in this line
caturthaḥ (चतुर्थः) plus adhyāyaḥ (अध्यायः) is recited caturtho 'dhyāyaḥ (ध्यायः), with the avagraha. The file closes the chapter title on a halant, so premanirvacanam (प्रेमनिर्वचनम्) stands as म् before the independent अ of anirvacanīyam (अनिर्वचनीयम्), not as a joined म.
Say it back
What does the line say cannot be said?