Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 140

Śeṣoditya-Sūrya-nyāsa, Soma-sādhana, Graha-pūjā, and Bhauma-vrata-vidhi

Devanagari script

एकविंशतिवारं यो लभतेसोंऽशुकं मणीन् । मनवोऽमो सदा गोप्या न देया यस्य कस्यचित् ॥ १४० ॥

Transliteration

ekaviṃśativāraṃ yo labhatesoṃ'śukaṃ maṇīn | manavo'mo sadā gopyā na deyā yasya kasyacit || 140 ||

Translation

Wer dies (Ritus/Mantra) einundzwanzigmal erlangt, gewinnt Gewänder und Edelsteine. Dieses Mantra ist stets geheim zu bewahren und darf nicht irgendwem gegeben werden.

Word by Word

• एकविंशति-वारम्: twenty-one times
• एकविंशति-वारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकविंशति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; "twenty-one times"

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

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• अंशुकम्: a cloth/garment
• अंशुकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंशुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन

• मणीन्: gems
• मणीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), बहुवचन

• मनवः: the mantras/Manus (reading uncertain)
• मनवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), बहुवचन

• अमः: (unclear term)
• अमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), एकवचन; reading uncertain in given text

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• गोप्याः: secret/kept hidden
• गोप्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), बहुवचन; predicate adjective: "to be kept secret"

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• देयाः: should be given
• देयाः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: विधेय/gerundive (तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थ), स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा, बहुवचन; passive obligation: "should be given" (negated here)

• यस्य: of whom; to whom
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/6th), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• कस्यचित्: of anyone; to anyone
• कस्यचित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/6th), एकवचन; indefinite pronoun

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, Vedanga/Mantra-vidhi style teaching)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes mantra-discipline: repetition in a fixed count brings results, but the power of the practice is protected through secrecy and proper transmission.

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

Indirectly: it teaches reverence for sacred practice—bhakti is strengthened when mantra and ritual are approached with restraint, purity, and respect for initiation and eligibility.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical rule of practice: prescribed japa-count (21 repetitions) and the principle of adhikāra—mantras are not to be distributed indiscriminately.