Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya

Devanagari script

षट् क्रमसु प्रशस्तास्ते मनवस्त्रिविधाः पुनः । तारांत्यरेफः स्वाहास्तु तत्राग्नेयाः समीरिताः ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

ṣaṭ kramasu praśastāste manavastrividhāḥ punaḥ | tārāṃtyarephaḥ svāhāstu tatrāgneyāḥ samīritāḥ || 6 ||

Translation

Among the six ritual sequences (kramas), those Mantra/Manu-formulas are praised; again, they are said to be of three kinds. In that context, the Agneya (fire-related) ones are declared as: “tārā”, “antya”, “repha”, and “svāhā”.

Word by Word

• षट्: six
• षट्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; अव्ययवत्/अविकारी रूप (indeclinable numeral used adjectivally)

• क्रमसु: in (the) sequences/steps
• क्रमसु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• प्रशस्ताः: praised/approved
• प्रशस्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-शंस् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• मनवः: manus / mantras called manava
• मनवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• त्रिविधाः: threefold
• त्रिविधाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + विध (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः: त्रयः विधाः येषाम् (threefold)

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/पुनरर्थक क्रियाविशेषण (again/further)

• तारान्त्यरेफः: the final ‘ra’ of “tārā”
• तारान्त्यरेफः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारा + अन्त्य + रेफ (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: तारायाः अन्त्यः रेफः (the final 'ra' of 'tārā')

• स्वाहा: svāhā
• स्वाहा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वाहा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; होम-निपात (exclamation used in oblations)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• तत्र: there/in that context
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/प्रसङ्गवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (there/in that context)

• आग्नेयाः: agni-related/fiery
• आग्नेयाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आग्नेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (belonging to Agni / fiery)

• समीरिताः: are declared/uttered
• समीरिताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-ईर् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय (are uttered/declared)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Svaha

FAQs

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

It frames mantra-usage as a disciplined, ordered science: sacred formulas are not random but classified and applied through recognized kramas, especially in fire-ritual contexts.

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

Indirectly: it supports bhakti-based worship by insisting that offerings into fire and devotional rites use correct mantra-markers (like svāhā), preserving sincerity through proper Vedic form.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-technical classification tied to phonetic/grammatical markers (e.g., repha = ‘ra’, antya = final sound) and ritual usage (svāhā) within Agneya (fire) procedures.