Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 157

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

संयातसिक्तमभिजप्तमिमं महद्भिर्धार्यं जगत्त्रयवशीकरणैकदक्षम् । रक्षायशः सुतमहीधनधान्यलक्ष्मीसौभाग्यलिप्सुभिरजस्रमनर्घ्यवीर्यम् ॥ १५७ ॥

Transliteration

saṃyātasiktamabhijaptamimaṃ mahadbhirdhāryaṃ jagattrayavaśīkaraṇaikadakṣam | rakṣāyaśaḥ sutamahīdhanadhānyalakṣmīsaubhāgyalipsubhirajasramanarghyavīryam || 157 ||

Translation

Dies, rechtmäßig zusammengetragen, geweiht und von großen Weisen im Japa besprochen, soll getragen werden; es ist einzig darin kundig, die drei Welten zu bezwingen. Wer unablässig Schutz, Ruhm, Söhne, Land, Reichtum, Korn, Lakṣmī (Wohlstand) und Glück begehrt, der trage es stets—denn seine Kraft ist unbezahlbar.

Word by Word

• saṃyāta-siktam: properly anointed/sprinkled
• saṃyāta-siktam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃyāta (प्रातिपदिक) + sikta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √sic)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; कर्मधारयः (properly prepared and sprinkled/anointed)

• abhijaptam: consecrated by recitation
• abhijaptam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-√jap (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; 'over which mantra has been recited'

• imam: this
• imam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• mahadbhiḥ: by great ones
• mahadbhiḥ: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; used substantively 'by the great (sages)'

• dhāryam: to be worn/held
• dhāryam: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु) + yat (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Gerundive/obligative (यत्), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; 'to be worn/held'

• jagat-traya-vaśīkaraṇa-eka-dakṣam: uniquely capable of subjugating the three worlds
• jagat-traya-vaśīkaraṇa-eka-dakṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक) + vaśīkaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + eka (प्रातिपदिक) + dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; agrees with 'imam (yantram/manum)'; multi-member तत्पुरुषः: 'skilled solely in subjugating the three worlds'

• rakṣā: protection
• rakṣā: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Benefit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (as first member of list)

• yaśaḥ: fame
• yaśaḥ: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Benefit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative Singular

• suta: son/offspring
• suta: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Benefit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• mahī: land/earth
• mahī: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Benefit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative Singular

• dhana: wealth
• dhana: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Benefit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative Singular

• dhānya: grain
• dhānya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Benefit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative Singular

• lakṣmī: prosperity
• lakṣmī: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Benefit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative Singular

• saubhāgya: good fortune
• saubhāgya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Benefit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saubhāgya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative Singular

• lipsubhiḥ: by those who desire
• lipsubhiḥ: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √lip (धातु) + su (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Present desiderative/intent participle (लिप्सु), Masculine, Instrumental Plural; 'by those desiring'

• ajasram: constantly
• ajasram: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ajasra (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• anarghya-vīryam: of priceless power
• anarghya-vīryam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anarghya (प्रातिपदिक) + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; agrees with 'imam'; कर्मधारयः (of priceless potency)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction-style narration within the Vedanga/ritual-application section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi

FAQs

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

It emphasizes mantra-śakti as a dharmic, disciplined power: when properly consecrated and empowered by japa under the authority of realized sages, it becomes a legitimate protective aid that supports one’s stability and auspiciousness.

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

While framed as a practical rite, it reflects bhakti’s reliance on sacred sound and sanctification—approaching divine order through reverent recitation, purity, and faith in the efficacy of properly transmitted mantra.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to mantra-prayoga and ritual procedure: correct preparation (saṃyāta), consecration by sprinkling (siktam), and empowerment through recitation (abhijaptam)—a technical, applied dimension aligned with Vedanga-style precision in sacred practice.