Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 168

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

चतुरावृत्तितश्चास्य समीहितमनारतम् । फलत्येव प्रयोगार्हो लोकरक्षाकरो भवेत् ॥ १६८ ॥

Transliteration

caturāvṛttitaścāsya samīhitamanāratam | phalatyeva prayogārho lokarakṣākaro bhavet || 168 ||

Translation

Durch viermaliges Wiederholen wird das ersehnte Ziel unfehlbar und ohne Unterbrechung erreicht. Wahrlich, eine solche Übung ist für rituelle Anwendung geeignet und wird zum Schutz der Welt.

Word by Word

• catur-āvṛtti-taḥ: by (means of) four repetitions
• catur-āvṛtti-taḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक) + āvṛtti (प्रातिपदिक) + -tas (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (tasil-derivative adverb), अर्थः—'from/by four repetitions'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• asya: of him/its
• asya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• samīhitam: the desired (result)
• samīhitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sam-īhita (कृदन्त; √īh (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• anāratam: unceasingly
• anāratam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: an-āratam (अव्यय/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), अर्थः—'unceasingly/constantly'

• phalati: bears fruit
• phalati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √phal (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• prayoga-arhaḥ: fit to be employed
• prayoga-arhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prayoga (प्रातिपदिक) + arha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—'prayogasya arhaḥ' (worthy of application)

• loka-rakṣā-karaḥ: a protector of the world
• loka-rakṣā-karaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + rakṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'lokasya rakṣāṃ karoti' (one who effects protection of the world)

• bhavet: would become / should be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined, repeated recitation (fourfold repetition) brings certain fruition of one’s intended goal and turns the practice into a socially beneficial, protective spiritual act (lokarakṣā).

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

Though framed as a technical instruction, it supports bhakti in practice: steady, uninterrupted repetition (japa) anchors the mind in the sacred and makes devotion effective and fruitful.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights prayoga—the applied/operational side of Vedic practice—stressing āvṛtti (prescribed repetition) as a method for ensuring efficacy in mantra-based rites.