Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77

Mantraśodhana, Dīkṣā-krama, Guru-Pādukā, Ajapā-Haṃsa, and Ṣaṭcakra-Kuṇḍalinī Sādhana

Devanagari script

ऋषिर्हंसस्तथाव्यक्तगायत्रीछंद ईरितम् । देवता परमो हंसश्चाद्यंते बीजशक्तिकम् ॥ ७७ ॥

Transliteration

ṛṣirhaṃsastathāvyaktagāyatrīchaṃda īritam | devatā paramo haṃsaścādyaṃte bījaśaktikam || 77 ||

Translation

Der ṛṣi ist Haṃsa, und das Versmaß (chandas) wird als die unmanifestierte Gāyatrī (avyakta) verkündet. Die waltende Gottheit ist der höchste Haṃsa; und Samen (bīja) sowie Kraft (śakti) werden an Anfang und Ende (von Mantra/Ritus) gesetzt.

Word by Word

• ऋषिः: the seer (ṛṣi)
• ऋषिः: Karta/Viṣaya (कर्ता/विषय—topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• हंसः: Haṃsa
• हंसः: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य—appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; predicate/apposition to ऋषिः

• तथा: thus/also
• तथा: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘thus/also’

• अव्यक्तगायत्रीछन्दः: the (so-called) Avyakta-Gāyatrī metre
• अव्यक्तगायत्रीछन्दः: Karta/Viṣaya (कर्ता/विषय—topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्यक्त + गायत्री + छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: ‘unmanifest Gāyatrī’-metre); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (छन्दस् commonly n.), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• ईरितम्: is declared
• ईरितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया—verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is said/declared’

• देवता: the deity
• देवता: Karta/Viṣaya (कर्ता/विषय—topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• परमः: supreme
• परमः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; qualifying हंसः

• हंसः: Haṃsa
• हंसः: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य—predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आद्यंते: in the beginning and the end
• आद्यंते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण—location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative: beginning and end); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), द्विवचन/बहुवचन-प्रयोगः (here as locative ‘in the beginning and end’)

• बीजशक्तिकम्: endowed with seed and power
• बीजशक्तिकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बीज + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: having seed-power / of seed and power); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agreeing with implied ‘(mantraṃ)’/‘(tat)’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on technical mantra-vidhi)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Hamsa
• Paramahamsa

FAQs

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

It codifies the mantra’s essential identifiers—ṛṣi, chandas, devatā, bīja, and śakti—showing that correct recognition and placement of these factors is part of disciplined sādhana leading toward higher realization symbolized by the Supreme Haṃsa (Paramahaṃsa).

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

By naming the devatā as the Supreme Haṃsa, it directs the practitioner’s devotion toward the highest divine principle; bhakti becomes focused and effective when the deity-aspect of the mantra is clearly known and contemplated in japa and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights chandas (Vedic metre) and mantra-vidhi fundamentals used in ritual practice—especially the technical identification of metre and the procedural placement of bīja and śakti in the beginning/end as part of nyāsa and japa discipline.