Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

हृदयांतो महामंत्रराजोऽयं द्वादशाक्षरः । रामचन्द्रो मुनिश्चास्य जगतीछंद ईरितम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

hṛdayāṃto mahāmaṃtrarājo'yaṃ dvādaśākṣaraḥ | rāmacandro muniścāsya jagatīchaṃda īritam || 5 ||

Translation

Dies ist der «König der großen Mantras», der mit dem Wort «hṛdaya» endet und ein zwölfsilbiger Mantra ist. Sein Seher (ṛṣi) ist Rāmacandra, und sein Versmaß (chandas) wird als Jagatī verkündet.

Word by Word

• हृदय: heart
• हृदय: अवयव (Member/अवयव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; first member in compound-like expression

• अन्तः: ending with
• अन्तः: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘ending with’ (predicative)

• महामन्त्रराजः: the great king of mantras
• महामन्त्रराजः: कर्ता/विधेय (Subject/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामन्त्रराज (प्रातिपदिक: महा + मन्त्र + राज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मन्त्राणां राजा)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• द्वादशाक्षरः: twelve-syllabled
• द्वादशाक्षरः: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादशाक्षर (प्रातिपदिक: द्वादश + अक्षर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (द्वादश अक्षराणि यस्य)

• रामचन्द्रः: Rāmacandra
• रामचन्द्रः: विधेय (Predicate nominative/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रामचन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (रामः चन्द्र इव)

• मुनिः: sage (seer)
• मुनिः: विधेय (Predicate nominative/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अस्य: of this (mantra)
• अस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; genitive pronoun

• जगती: Jagatī (metre)
• जगती: विधेय (Predicate nominative/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; metre-name

• छन्दः: metre
• छन्दः: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘metre’

• ईरितम्: is stated
• ईरितम्: क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical, Vedanga-style manner within the Narada Purana’s dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ramacandra

FAQs

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

It establishes the mantra’s formal identity—its syllable-count, its ṛṣi, and its chandas—so the practitioner approaches the mantra with proper Vedic authorization (mantra-lakṣaṇa) and disciplined japa.

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

By calling it the “king of great mantras,” the verse elevates mantra-japa as a primary bhakti-sādhana, where correct remembrance of the mantra’s tradition (ṛṣi–chandas) supports steady devotion and focused heart-centered worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Chandas (a Vedanga) is explicitly applied: the metre is Jagatī, and the verse also notes mantra-structure (dvādaśākṣara), both used in correct recitation, japa rhythm, and ritual viniyoga.