Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

लक्षमेकं जपेन्मन्त्रं दशांशं जुहुयात्तिलैः । सतण्डुलैः पायसेन विष्णुपीठे यजत्तुतम् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

lakṣamekaṃ japenmantraṃ daśāṃśaṃ juhuyāttilaiḥ | sataṇḍulaiḥ pāyasena viṣṇupīṭhe yajattutam || 19 ||

Translation

Man soll das Mantra einhunderttausendmal rezitieren; dann ein Zehntel davon als Feueropfer mit Sesam darbringen, zusammen mit Reiskörnern und Reis‑Milch‑Speise (pāyasa), und die Verehrung ordnungsgemäß am Viṣṇu‑pīṭha, dem heiligen Sitz Viṣṇus, vollziehen.

Word by Word

• lakṣam: a lakh (100,000)
• lakṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ekam: one
• ekam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• japet: one should recite
• japet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• mantram: the mantra
• mantram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• daśa-aṃśam: a tenth portion
• daśa-aṃśam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः—‘दशभागम्’ (a tenth part)

• juhuyāt: one should offer into the fire
• juhuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hu (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• tilaiḥ: with sesame seeds
• tilaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• sa-taṇḍulaiḥ: together with rice grains
• sa-taṇḍulaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + taṇḍula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); अव्ययीभावः—‘सह तण्डुलैः’

• pāyasena: with rice-pudding (pāyasa)
• pāyasena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāyasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• viṣṇu-pīṭhe: at the Vishnu-altar/seat
• viṣṇu-pīṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + pīṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘विष्णोः पीठम्’

• yajat: he worships/one worships
• yajat: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• utam: also/and
• utam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uta (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक-निपात (particle: ‘and/also’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It prescribes a complete sādhana cycle: lakṣa-japa (100,000 repetitions) followed by daśāṁśa-homa (one-tenth oblations), emphasizing disciplined completion of mantra-practice and consecration of its fruit through fire-offering and Viṣṇu worship.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as regulated worship—repeating the Lord’s mantra, offering pure substances like tila and pāyasa, and directing the entire rite to Viṣṇu-pīṭha, making devotion concrete through service (upacāra) and sacrifice (homa).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual proportion and procedure—especially the daśāṁśa rule (one-tenth homa after japa) and the use of specific dravyas (tila, taṇḍula, pāyasa), reflecting applied Kalpa/Śrauta-Smārta style ritual discipline.