Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

वर्णलक्षं जपेन्मंत्रं विधिवन्नियतेंद्रियः । प्रथमेन तु लक्षेण स्वात्मशुद्धिर्भवेद् ध्रुवम् ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

varṇalakṣaṃ japenmaṃtraṃ vidhivanniyateṃdriyaḥ | prathamena tu lakṣeṇa svātmaśuddhirbhaved dhruvam || 34 ||

Translation

ইন্দ্রিয় সংযত করে বিধিপূর্বক মন্ত্রের এক লক্ষ বর্ণ জপ করো; প্রথম লক্ষ জপেই নিশ্চিতভাবে আত্মশুদ্ধি ঘটে।

Word by Word

• varṇa: syllable/letter
• varṇa: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), stem-form in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• lakṣam: one lakh (count)
• lakṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: varṇa-lakṣa ‘a lakh of syllables (recitations)’

• japet: should recite
• japet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jap (जप्)
• Form: Optative/vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• mantram: mantra
• mantram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vidhivat: according to rule, duly
• vidhivat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhivat (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• niyata: restrained, disciplined
• niyata: Viseṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niyata (कृदन्त; ni-√yam (यम्) + क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• indriyaḥ: (one) with controlled senses
• indriyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: niyata-indriya ‘one whose senses are restrained’

• prathamena: by the first (lakh)
• prathamena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) used substantively, Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) expressing contrast/emphasis

• lakṣeṇa: by (one) lakh
• lakṣeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sva: one’s own
• sva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Stem-form in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• ātma: self
• ātma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Stem-form in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• śuddhiḥ: purification
• śuddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: sva-ātma-śuddhi ‘purification of one’s own self’

• bhavet: would be/should occur
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू)
• Form: Optative/vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• dhruvam: certainly
• dhruvam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण द्वितीया)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on disciplined mantra-japa in the Vedanga/ritual-technical frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It states that mantra-japa is not merely repetition: when done with sense-restraint and proper observance, completing the first lakh of syllables produces definite inner purification (svātma-śuddhi), establishing the practitioner’s fitness for higher practice.

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

Although technical in tone, it supports bhakti by emphasizing disciplined remembrance through mantra-japa; purity and steadiness gained through regulated repetition make devotion stable and effective rather than distracted.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights procedural correctness (vidhi) and measurable japa discipline (lakṣa-count), reflecting a technical, practice-oriented approach associated with Vedanga-linked ritual method and regulated sādhana.