Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 160

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

सेकाख्या वीक्षणाख्या चोपदेशाख्या तथैव च । व्याकुलाक्षरसंकेता गायत्री प्रणवादिका ॥ १६० ॥

Transliteration

sekākhyā vīkṣaṇākhyā copadeśākhyā tathaiva ca | vyākulākṣarasaṃketā gāyatrī praṇavādikā || 160 ||

Translation

Gāyatrī—beginnend mit dem Pranava «Oṁ»—wird in mehreren fachlichen Weisen bezeichnet: als «Sekā», als «Vīkṣaṇā» und als «Upadeśā»; und sie ist zudem durch eine besondere, kunstvolle Anordnung und Kennzeichnung der Silben ausgezeichnet.

Word by Word

• सेक-आख्या: called ‘seka’
• सेक-आख्या: कर्तृ/विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेक + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: ‘named/known as seka’

• वीक्षण-आख्या: called ‘vīkṣaṇa’
• वीक्षण-आख्या: कर्तृ/विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीक्षण + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘named vīkṣaṇa’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• उपदेश-आख्या: called ‘upadeśa’
• उपदेश-आख्या: कर्तृ/विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपदेश + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘named upadeśa’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थ (adverb)

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: अवधारण (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• व्याकुल-अक्षर-संकेता: marked by agitated/confused syllables
• व्याकुल-अक्षर-संकेता: कर्तृ/विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याकुल + अक्षर + संकेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: ‘having (a) sign/indication of agitated/confused syllables’

• गायत्री: Gāyatrī
• गायत्री: कर्तृ/विशेष्य
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• प्रणव-आदिका: beginning with the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणव-आदिका: कर्तृ/विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणव + आदि + क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: ‘beginning with praṇava (oṃ)’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Gayatri
• Pranava (Om)

FAQs

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

It frames Gāyatrī (with Oṁ) not merely as a single utterance but as a disciplined, tradition-bound practice with recognized modes and precise syllabic indications—emphasizing purity of sound and method as part of spiritual efficacy.

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

By placing Pranava-led Gāyatrī within authorized methods of transmission (upadeśa) and correct phonetic handling, it supports bhakti through reverent, rule-guided japa—devotion expressed as careful sacred recitation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-prayoga: the verse points to technical classifications of recitation and the importance of akṣara-saṃketa—accurate syllable marking and articulation in Vedic chanting.