Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 176

Hanumān-mantra-kathana: Mantra-bheda, Nyāsa, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

दक्षहस्तेन मन्त्रज्ञः प्रत्यहं मंडला वधि । एवं कृते महाकारागृहान्मंत्री विमुच्यते ॥ १७६ ॥

Transliteration

dakṣahastena mantrajñaḥ pratyahaṃ maṃḍalā vadhi | evaṃ kṛte mahākārāgṛhānmaṃtrī vimucyate || 176 ||

Translation

Mit der rechten Hand soll der Mantra-Kundige das Ritual täglich ausführen, bis die vorgeschriebene Maṇḍala-Zeit vollendet ist. Ist dies getan, wird selbst der Gebundene, wie ein Gefangener in großem Kerker, befreit.

Word by Word

• दक्ष-हस्तेन: with the right hand
• दक्ष-हस्तेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (दक्षः हस्तः)

• मन्त्रज्ञः: the knower of mantras
• मन्त्रज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (कृदन्त; ज्ञा धातु, क)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—मन्त्रं जानाति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• प्रत्यहम्: every day
• प्रत्यहम्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय) + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of time)

• मण्डलात्: from the maṇḍala/circle
• मण्डलात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अवधि: up to; as far as
• अवधि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Limit marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अवधि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्ययम्; मर्यादा/सीमा-वाचक (limit-marker: up to/as far as)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• कृते: when (this) is done
• कृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/सप्तमी एकवचन; लोके—सप्तमी-absolute (locative absolute): ‘when it is done’

• महाकारागृहात्: from the great prison-house
• महाकारागृहात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + कारा (प्रातिपदिक) + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः—महती कारा यस्मिन् तत् गृहं (तत्पुरुष)

• मन्त्री: the mantra-practitioner
• मन्त्री: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विमुच्यते: is freed/released
• विमुच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि/मध्यस्थ-भावः (is released)

Speaker

Narada (instructional discourse in Vedanga/ritual practice section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that steady, daily mantra-practice maintained for the full prescribed cycle (maṇḍala) has liberating power, breaking bondage likened to imprisonment.

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

While framed as mantra-prayoga, it supports bhakti by emphasizing disciplined repetition and faithful observance over time—devotional practice that matures into inner freedom.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure (prayoga): using the right hand for prescribed acts and adhering to a fixed observance period (maṇḍala), reflecting technical discipline central to Vedanga-style practice.