Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 150

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

पञ्चलक्षं जपेन्मंत्रं दशांशं जुहुयात्तिलैः । पूजयेन्मातृकापीठे गरुडं वेदविग्रहम् ॥ १५० ॥

Transliteration

pañcalakṣaṃ japenmaṃtraṃ daśāṃśaṃ juhuyāttilaiḥ | pūjayenmātṛkāpīṭhe garuḍaṃ vedavigraham || 150 ||

Translation

Man soll das Mantra fünfhunderttausendmal japa rezitieren; dann ein Zehntel davon mit Sesamsamen als Opfergabe ins Feuer darbringen. Am Mātṛkā-Sitz (Mātṛkā-pīṭha) verehre man Garuḍa, dessen Gestalt selbst der Veda ist.

Word by Word

• pañca-lakṣam: five lakhs (times)
• pañca-lakṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); numeral compound meaning ‘five lakhs’

• japet: should recite
• japet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jap (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

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

• daśāṃśam: a tenth portion
• daśāṃśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘a tenth part’

• juhuyāt: should offer (into fire)
• juhuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hu (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

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

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• mātṛkā-pīṭhe: at/on the Mātṛkā-seat (altar)
• mātṛkā-pīṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛkā (प्रातिपदिक) + pīṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• garuḍam: Garuḍa
• garuḍam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garuḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• veda-vigraham: whose form is the Veda
• veda-vigraham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + vigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying garuḍam

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a technical/ritual instruction section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa
• Veda
• Mātṛkā

FAQs

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

It outlines a complete mantra-sādhanā sequence—large-scale japa followed by proportionate homa—culminating in worship of Garuḍa, presenting disciplined practice as the means to make mantra-power fruitful.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through regulated worship: sustained mantra-recitation, sacrificial offering, and reverent pūjā of Garuḍa (closely associated with Viṣṇu), showing devotion as both inner repetition and outer ritual honor.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual proportionality and procedure (a technical prayoga): a prescribed japa count, a daśāṃśa (one-tenth) homa using tilas (sesame), and a specific worship locus (pīṭha), reflecting applied śrauta/smārta ritual method.