Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

Bhuvaneśī (Nidrā-Śakti) Mantra-vidhi, Nyāsa–Āvaraṇa Worship, Padma-homa Prayogas, and the Opening of Śrī-Mahālakṣmī Upāsanā

Devanagari script

अन्नं तन्मंत्रितं मंत्री भुंजीत श्रीप्रसिद्धये । लिखितां भस्मना मायां ससाध्यां फलकादिषु ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

annaṃ tanmaṃtritaṃ maṃtrī bhuṃjīta śrīprasiddhaye | likhitāṃ bhasmanā māyāṃ sasādhyāṃ phalakādiṣu || 50 ||

Translation

Um des Gedeihens und des guten Rufes willen soll der Übende Speise zu sich nehmen, die mit jenem Mantra geweiht wurde. Ferner soll er die mantrische „māyā“—zusammen mit den vorgeschriebenen Zusatzgliedern—mit Asche auf Früchte und ähnliche Dinge schreiben.

Word by Word

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• तत्-मन्त्रितम्: that which is enchanted (with mantra)
• तत्-मन्त्रितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्रित (कृदन्त, मन्त्र् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/क्तवत्-भाव), ‘मन्त्रित’ = consecrated/enchanted

• मन्त्री: the mantra-knower / minister
• मन्त्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन

• भुञ्जीत: should eat/partake
• भुञ्जीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्री-प्रसिद्धये: for the fame/glory of Śrī
• श्री-प्रसिद्धये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dat.), एकवचन; प्रयोजन-द्योतक (purpose)

• लिखिताम्: written/inscribed
• लिखिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिखित (कृदन्त, लिख् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• भस्मना: with ash
• भस्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instr.), एकवचन

• मायाम्: magic/illusion (a charm)
• मायाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन

• स-साध्याम्: together with its efficacy/means of accomplishment
• स-साध्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + साध्य (कृदन्त, साध् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन; ‘स-’ = with; साध्य = to be accomplished/efficacious

• फलका-आदिषु: on tablets and the like
• फलका-आदिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फलका (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (आदि-शब्द), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Loc.), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ = etc.

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual context to the Sanatkumara tradition)

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 presents a technical ritual principle: mantra is applied through consecration (mantrita) and physical media (food, fruits) to generate śrī (prosperity) and prasiddhi (renown), showing how intention and prescribed procedure are joined in prayoga (practical application).

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

While primarily a technical instruction, it implies disciplined reverence toward mantra as sacred power; in the Purāṇic frame, such practices are ideally subordinated to devotion and ethical conduct rather than mere display of results.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga (applied ritual technique) is emphasized—how a mantra is ‘installed’ through consecration and written application—reflecting the procedural side of Vedic auxiliary sciences used in ritual performance.