Shloka 54

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Aṣṭākṣarī Maṇḍala-Pūjā and Nyāsa

Devanagari script

जपं चैव प्रकुवर्ति मूलमंत्रेण तत्ववित् । अष्टाविंशतिमष्टौ वा शतमष्टोत्तरं तथा ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

japaṃ caiva prakuvarti mūlamaṃtreṇa tatvavit | aṣṭāviṃśatimaṣṭau vā śatamaṣṭottaraṃ tathā || 54 ||

Translation

Und der Kenner des wahren Prinzips soll Japa mit dem Wurzelmantra (mūla-mantra) vollziehen: entweder achtundzwanzigmal, oder achtmal, oder auch hundertachtmal.

Word by Word

• जपम्: japa/recitation
• जपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय-निपात)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण-निपात)

• प्रकुर्वर्ति: performs (does)
• प्रकुर्वर्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; पाठभेद/रूपभेदः ‘प्रकुर्वीत/प्रकुर्यात्’ इत्यर्थे (performs/should perform)

• मूलमन्त्रेण: with the root-mantra
• मूलमन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः: मूलः मन्त्रः (root-mantra); करणार्थे (by means of)

• तत्त्ववित्: the knower of tattva
• तत्त्ववित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व + विद् (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक (विद्-प्रत्ययान्त ‘वित्’ = knower), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः: तत्त्वं वेत्ति इति (knower of truth)

• अष्टाविंशतिम्: twenty-eight
• अष्टाविंशतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टा + विंशति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (विंशति-शब्दः), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः: अष्टा + विंशतिः = 28; संख्या (number of repetitions)

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; संख्या (eight)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (विकल्प-निपात)

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्या (hundred)

• अष्टोत्तरम्: plus eight (i.e., 108)
• अष्टोत्तरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः: अष्टेन उत्तरम् = eight more; ‘शतम् अष्टोत्तरम्’ = 108

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक), अर्थे—‘तथैव’ (also/likewise)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within Uttara-Bhaga ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It standardizes japa as a disciplined practice: the “tattva-vit” (one grounded in right understanding) repeats the principal mantra in auspicious, traditionally accepted counts to align intention, breath, and devotion.

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

By prescribing repeated remembrance of the mūla-mantra, it frames bhakti as steady, count-based mantra-sevā—devotion expressed through consistent, focused repetition rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (kalpa-style procedure) is implied through fixed japa-saṅkhyā (counts like 108), reflecting practical liturgical measurement used in mantra practice.