Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

विकसास्तें समाख्याताः सर्वतंत्रविशारदैः । शतं सार्द्धशतं वापि शतद्वयमथापि वा ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

vikasāsteṃ samākhyātāḥ sarvataṃtraviśāradaiḥ | śataṃ sārddhaśataṃ vāpi śatadvayamathāpi vā || 55 ||

Translation

Diese «vikāsa» sind von Kennern aller Tantras und Śāstras beschrieben worden: man sagt, es seien hundert, oder hundertfünfzig, oder sogar zweihundert.

Word by Word

• विकसाः: vikasas (a class/name)
• विकसाः: कर्ता (Karta; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन (plural)

• ते: those
• ते: कर्ता (Karta; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• समाख्याताः: have been declared/called
• समाख्याताः: विधेय (predicate; passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√ख्या (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (passive sense): ‘have been declared/called’

• सर्व-तन्त्र-विशारदैः: by experts in all tantras
• सर्व-तन्त्र-विशारदैः: कर्ता (Karta; agent in passive, करण/कर्ता-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास: ‘experts in all tantras’; पुंलिङ्ग (masc), तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (plural)

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: विशेष्य/परिमाण (measure/number)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case; numeric), एकवचन (singular)

• सार्ध-शतम्: one and a half hundred (150)
• सार्ध-शतम्: परिमाण (measure/number)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार्ध (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव समास: ‘with half in addition’ = 150; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध-बोधक (alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध-बोधक (emphasis/addition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), ‘also/even’

• शत-द्वयम्: two hundred
• शत-द्वयम्: परिमाण (measure/number)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु समास: ‘two hundreds’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अथ: then/and
• अथ: सम्बन्ध-बोधक (discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), sequence ‘then/and’

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध-बोधक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध-बोधक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प (disjunctive particle)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue context teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Vedic-śāstric knowledge is systematized into many recognized sub-divisions, and that authoritative teachers may transmit different traditional counts while remaining within learned consensus.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti by showing that disciplined study and clear classification of teachings (tantras/śāstras) help a seeker choose reliable guidance, which in the Purāṇic frame culminates in devotion grounded in right understanding.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights śāstra-taxonomy and traditional enumerations—useful for organizing Vedāṅga-related study (e.g., śikṣā, vyākaraṇa, chandas, nirukta, jyotiṣa, kalpa) and their recognized sub-branches.