Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

ध्यात्वैवं प्रजपेल्लक्षं रक्तैः पद्मैर्दशांशतः ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

dhyātvaivaṃ prajapellakṣaṃ raktaiḥ padmairdaśāṃśataḥ || 49 ||

Translation

Nachdem man so meditiert hat, soll man die Mantra-Wiederholung (japa) bis zu einem Lakh (100.000) Zählungen vollziehen und rote Lotosblüten als Opfergabe in Höhe eines Zehntels dieser japa darbringen.

Word by Word

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having meditated)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• प्रजपेत्: should recite (mutter)
• प्रजपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लक्षम्: a hundred thousand (times)
• लक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; परिमाण/संख्या (one lakh)

• रक्तैः: with red (ones)
• रक्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• पद्मैः: with lotuses
• पद्मैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दशांशतः: by a tenth (as a tenth portion)
• दशांशतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दशांश (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित-अव्यय)
• Form: तद्धितान्त-अव्यय (तस्), प्रकार/परिमाणवाचक (by tenths / as a tenth part)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-siddhi is supported by a complete discipline: first steady meditation (dhyāna), then sustained japa (lakṣa), and finally a proportional offering (daśāṃśa) that externalizes devotion and seals the practice.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as focused remembrance (meditation), loving repetition of the divine name/mantra, and tangible worship through offerings—showing devotion as both inner absorption and outer reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual precision: the prescribed count (lakṣa) and the daśāṃśa proportion for offerings mirrors technical discipline found in kalpa-style procedural norms (practical rules for rites and worship).