Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 109

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

वह्निः शेषासनो भांतः केवलो द्व्यक्षरो मनुः । एकाक्षरोक्त वत्सर्वं मुनिध्यानार्चनादिकम् ॥ १०९ ॥

Transliteration

vahniḥ śeṣāsano bhāṃtaḥ kevalo dvyakṣaro manuḥ | ekākṣarokta vatsarvaṃ munidhyānārcanādikam || 109 ||

Translation

„Vahni“ (Agni), „Śeṣāsana“ (Der auf Śeṣa Ruhende), „Bhānta“ (der Strahlende) und „Kevala“ (der Absolute) sind heilige zweisilbige Mantras. Doch im einsilbigen Mantra ist alles verkündet—wie die Meditation und Verehrung der Munis und die verwandten Übungen.

Word by Word

• vahniḥ: fire
• vahniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), एकवचनम्

• śeṣa-āsanaḥ: having Śeṣa as his seat
• śeṣa-āsanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (śeṣaḥ āsanam yasya / śeṣe āsanaṃ yasya = having Śeṣa as seat)

• bhāntaḥ: shining
• bhāntaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhānta (कृदन्त; √bhā (भा) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; भूतकृदन्तः (past participle used adjectivally)

• kevalaḥ: alone, pure
• kevalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• dvi-akṣaraḥ: two-syllabled
• dvi-akṣaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः (two-syllabled)

• manuḥ: the mantra
• manuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; मन्त्र-विशेषः

• ekākṣara-uktavat: as stated (in the one-syllable form)
• ekākṣara-uktavat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त; √vac (वच्) + क्त) + -vat (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ekākṣareṇa uktaṃ yathā = as stated with one syllable) + वत् (in the manner of)

• tat: that
• tat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; निर्देशार्थम् (demonstrative)

• sarvam: all (of it)
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• muni-dhyāna-arcana-ādikam: sage-meditation, worship, and the like
• muni-dhyāna-arcana-ādikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक) + arcana (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + -ka (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः/समाहारः (muni-dhyāna, arcana, etc.)

Speaker

Narada (instructional discourse within Vedanga/Mantra-vidya section; traditionally framed in Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Shesha
• Vishnu (as Sheshashayana/Narayana)

FAQs

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

It teaches mantra-hierarchy: many devotional and contemplative practices are said to be gathered into the potency of a single-syllable mantra, while certain divine epithets function as concise two-syllable mantras.

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

By presenting divine names like Śeṣāsana and Bhānta as mantras, it frames bhakti as name-based upāsanā—meditation and worship centered on the Lord—condensed into powerful mantra-forms.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A mantra-śāstra/phonetic (śikṣā-like) insight: the count of syllables (akṣara) matters, and specific akṣara-mantras are linked to defined ritual and meditative applications (dhyāna, arcana).