Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

सर्वेषु राममंत्रषु ह्यतिश्रेष्टः षडक्षरः । ब्रह्महत्यासहस्राणि ज्ञाताज्ञातकृतानि च ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

sarveṣu rāmamaṃtraṣu hyatiśreṣṭaḥ ṣaḍakṣaraḥ | brahmahatyāsahasrāṇi jñātājñātakṛtāni ca || 5 ||

Translation

Unter allen Mantras Śrī Rāmas ist das sechssilbige wahrlich das vortrefflichste; es vernichtet Tausende von Sünden, so schwer wie brahma-hatyā (die Tötung eines Brāhmaṇa), ob wissentlich oder unwissentlich begangen.

Word by Word

• सर्वेषु: among all
• सर्वेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• राममन्त्रेषु: among Rama-mantras
• राममन्त्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रामस्य मन्त्राः)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतु-प्राय (indeed/for)

• अतिश्रेष्ठः: supremely excellent
• अतिश्रेष्ठः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of षडक्षरः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (अति-श्रेष्ठः = exceedingly best)

• षडक्षरः: the six-syllabled (mantra)
• षडक्षरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (षट् अक्षराणि यस्य/षडक्षरः = six-syllabled mantra)

• ब्रह्महत्यासहस्राणि: thousands of brahma-hatya sins
• ब्रह्महत्यासहस्राणि: Karma (कर्म/Object, implied with elided verb like नश्यन्ति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्महत्या + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्महत्यायाः सहस्राणि = thousands of brahma-murder (sins))

• ज्ञाताज्ञातकृतानि: committed knowingly or unknowingly
• ज्ञाताज्ञातकृतानि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of ब्रह्महत्यासहस्राणि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञात + अज्ञात + कृत (कृ-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (ज्ञातं च अज्ञातं च = knowingly and unknowingly; कृतानि = done)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ (and)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rama

FAQs

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

It elevates the six-syllabled Rāma-mantra as a supreme prāyaścitta, teaching that sincere mantra-japa can purify even the heaviest karmic stains, including grave sins done knowingly or unknowingly.

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

By presenting Rāma’s name/mantra as the highest means of purification, the verse frames devotion expressed through japa as both a devotional act and a transformative spiritual discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implies disciplined mantra-prayoga—attention to akṣara-count (ṣaḍ-akṣara), correct recitation, and regulated japa—practices aligned with Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (sound/word precision) in mantra usage.