Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

Kalpa-Lakṣaṇa and Gṛhya-Kalpa: Classifications, Purifications, Implements, and Spatial Rite-Design

Devanagari script

मन्त्राणामृषयश्चैव छन्दांस्यथ च देवताः । निर्दिष्टाः संहिताकल्पे मुनिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

mantrāṇāmṛṣayaścaiva chandāṃsyatha ca devatāḥ | nirdiṣṭāḥ saṃhitākalpe munibhistattvadarśibhiḥ || 5 ||

Translation

The ṛṣis of the mantras, their metres (chandas), and the presiding deities have all been specified in the Saṃhitā and Kalpa traditions by sages who behold the truth.

Word by Word

• मन्त्राणाम्: of the mantras
• मन्त्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ऋषयः: sages (seers)
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/Emphatic (निपात)

• छन्दांसि: meters (chandas)
• छन्दांसि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/Sequential (अनन्तरबोधक अव्यय/निपात)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• देवताः: deities (presiding deities)
• देवताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• निर्दिष्टाः: have been specified/indicated
• निर्दिष्टाः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√दिश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; used predicatively (भूतकर्मणि)

• संहिता-कल्पे: in the Saṃhitā-kalpa section
• संहिता-कल्पे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संहिता (प्रातिपदिक) + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): ‘संहितायाः कल्पः’

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument-Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• तत्त्व-दर्शिभिः: by truth-seeing (sages)
• तत्त्व-दर्शिभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument-Agent in passive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; adjective qualifying ‘मुनिभिः’; तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-भाव): ‘तत्त्वं पश्यन्ति’/‘तत्त्वस्य दर्शिनः’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rishis
• Chandas
• Devatas
• Samhita
• Kalpa

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that mantra-practice is not arbitrary: each mantra is anchored in a revealed lineage (ṛṣi), a precise sonic structure (chandas), and a divine focus (devatā), as preserved by truth-seeing sages in the Saṃhitā and Kalpa traditions.

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

By highlighting the devatā of a mantra, it points devotion toward a specific divine form; correct identification of devatā and disciplined recitation supports focused remembrance and worship rather than vague or misdirected practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and chandas (metre) are implied: knowing a mantra’s ṛṣi–chandas–devatā is a core practical requirement for correct Vedic recitation and ritual application as taught in Saṃhitā/Kalpa materials.