Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

The Exposition of Nṛsiṁha Worship-Mantras, Nyāsa, Mudrās, Yantras, Kavaca, and Nṛsiṁha Gāyatrī

Devanagari script

वर्णलक्षं जपेन्मन्त्रं तद्दशांशं च पायसैः । घृताक्तैर्जुहुयाद्वह्नौ पीठे पूर्वोदितेऽचयेत् ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

varṇalakṣaṃ japenmantraṃ taddaśāṃśaṃ ca pāyasaiḥ | ghṛtāktairjuhuyādvahnau pīṭhe pūrvodite'cayet || 45 ||

Translation

Man soll das Mantra bis zu einem Lakh (hunderttausend) Silben wiederholen; dann, als den zehnten Teil dieser Zahl, gheegetränkten Pāyasa (Milchreis) als Opfergabe ins Feuer darbringen und die vorbereitete Gabe auf dem zuvor vorgeschriebenen Pīṭha, dem Altarplatz, niederlegen.

Word by Word

• वर्ण-लक्षम्: one lakh (count) of syllables
• वर्ण-लक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वर्णानां लक्षम् = one lakh of syllables)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (दशांशम् इति)

• दशांशम्: a tenth part
• दशांशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशांश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पायसैः: with rice-pudding (offerings)
• पायसैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• घृत-आक्तैः: smeared with ghee
• घृत-आक्तैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घृत + आक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; आञ्ज्/अञ्ज् धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (पायसैः इति); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (घृतेन आक्त = smeared with ghee)

• जुहुयात्: should offer (into fire)
• जुहुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; पुनरुक्त-हवनार्थकः

• वह्नौ: in the fire
• वह्नौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पीठे: on the pedestal/seat
• पीठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पूर्व-उदिते: previously described
• पूर्व-उदिते: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व + उदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; उद्+इ धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पीठे इति); कर्मधारयः (पूर्वं उदित = previously stated/mentioned)

• अचयेत्: should heap/arrange (place)
• अचयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्गः आ-

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

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 teaches a classical mantra-sādhana structure: intensive japa to build mantra-shakti, followed by proportional homa (one-tenth) to stabilize and consecrate the practice through disciplined ritual action.

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

Although technical, it supports bhakti by prescribing steady remembrance (japa) and offering (homa) as acts of devotion—training the mind in single-pointed worship and surrender through regulated practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual science—precise counting (lakṣa-japa), proportional offering (daśāṃśa), and homa materials (pāyasa with ghee) arranged on the prescribed pīṭha—reflecting technical procedure aligned with śrauta/smārta ritual principles.