Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya

Devanagari script

ज्ञातव्यो भ्रांत इत्येष यः स्यादष्टा दशाक्षरः । पुनर्विशतिवर्णो वा यो मंत्रः स्मरसंयुतः ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

jñātavyo bhrāṃta ityeṣa yaḥ syādaṣṭā daśākṣaraḥ | punarviśativarṇo vā yo maṃtraḥ smarasaṃyutaḥ || 38 ||

Translation

Wisse: Als ‘bhrānta’ (verwirrt/irrend) gilt ein Mantra, das achtzehn Silben hat, oder auch eines mit zwanzig Buchstaben, wenn es mit Worten verbunden ist, die zu Smara (Kāma, erotisches Begehren) gehören.

Word by Word

• ज्ञातव्यः: is to be known
• ज्ञातव्यः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ‘to be known’

• भ्रान्तः: confused/errant
• भ्रान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• यः: who/which
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• स्यात्: should be/is (would be)
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अष्टा: eight
• अष्टा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (संख्याविशेषण) पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ‘eight’ (used as qualifier)

• दशाक्षरः: ten-syllabled
• दशाक्षरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश-अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास—दश (ten) + अक्षर (syllable)

• पुनः: again/alternatively
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्तिबोधक अव्यय (adverb)

• विशतिवर्णः: twenty-lettered
• विशतिवर्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विंशति-वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास—विंशति (twenty) + वर्ण (letters)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• यः: which/that
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• मन्त्रः: mantra
• मन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• स्मरसंयुतः: joined with Smara (Kāma)
• स्मरसंयुतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मर-संयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ—‘स्मरेण/स्मरस्य संयुतः’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga/Mantra-śāstra context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Smara (Kāma)

FAQs

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

It warns that mantra-efficacy depends not only on form (syllable/letter count) but also on purity of intent and content; mantras tied to erotic passion (Smara) are classified as ‘bhrānta’ and are to be recognized as unsuitable for sāttvika spiritual aims.

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

By implying that devotion requires mental purity and God-centered remembrance; mantras mixed with passion distract the mind from steady bhakti and therefore are treated as defective for devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical mantra-śāstra point: mantras are analyzed by akṣara/varṇa count and by semantic association; content linked with Smara is flagged as a defect (doṣa) affecting ritual/spiritual suitability.