Shloka 30

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

नमः शिवायेति मंत्रं सतारं विधिना तु यः । चतुर्विशतिलक्षं वै जपेत्साक्षात्सशंकरः ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

namaḥ śivāyeti maṃtraṃ satāraṃ vidhinā tu yaḥ | caturviśatilakṣaṃ vai japetsākṣātsaśaṃkaraḥ || 30 ||

Translation

Wer nach der rechten Vorschrift das Mantra „Oṃ namaḥ śivāya“ zusammen mit der Praṇava wiederholt und wahrhaft vierundzwanzig Lakhs an Japa vollendet, wird Śaṅkara selbst in offenbarter Gestalt.

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन/उद्गार (Vocative/Exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक

• शिवाय: to Shiva
• शिवाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradana/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्यसूचक (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• स-तारम्: with the ‘tāra’ (praṇava)
• स-तारम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह) + तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (मन्त्रस्य)

• विधिना: by the prescribed method
• विधिना: करण (Karana/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: वाक्यनिबन्धन (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेष (adversative/emphatic particle)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• चतुर्विंशति-लक्षम्: twenty-four lakhs (2.4 million)
• चतुर्विंशति-लक्षम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्विंशति + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; संख्यापरिमाण (count)

• वै: indeed
• वै: वाक्यनिबन्धन (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक (emphatic particle)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• साक्षात्: directly/in person
• साक्षात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• स-शङ्करः: (becomes) Shiva himself
• स-शङ्करः: विधेय (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (सह) + शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; उपमान/फलवचन (resultative predicate)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Uttara-Bhaga context of tirtha/mahatmya and vows)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Om (Pranava)

FAQs

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

It elevates disciplined mantra-japa (with proper vidhi and the praṇava) as a direct means to attain Śiva-like realization—identity with Śaṅkara through sustained practice.

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

It presents bhakti as steady, count-based remembrance of the deity through mantra repetition, where devotion is expressed as continuous nāma-mantra absorption leading to divine proximity and likeness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (kalpa/vidhi) is implied: correct procedure, inclusion of praṇava (tāra), and regulated japa-saṅkhyā (count) as a technical practice of mantra-sādhana.