Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 182

Hanumān-mantra-kathana: Mantra-bheda, Nyāsa, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

तन्मध्येऽष्टदशार्णं तु शत्रुनामान्वितं लिखेत् । तेन मन्त्राभिजप्तेन शिरोबद्ध्वेन भूमिपः ॥ १८२ ॥

Transliteration

tanmadhye'ṣṭadaśārṇaṃ tu śatrunāmānvitaṃ likhet | tena mantrābhijaptena śirobaddhvena bhūmipaḥ || 182 ||

Translation

In its center one should write the eighteen-syllabled mantra, inserting the enemy’s name. When it has been empowered by repeated recitation and then bound upon the head, the king gains protection and victory.

Word by Word

• तत्-मध्ये: in the middle of that
• तत्-मध्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), सप्तमी (Loc), एकवचन (Sg); तत्पुरुषः: तस्य मध्ये = in the middle of that

• अष्टादश-अर्णम्: the eighteen-syllabled (formula)
• अष्टादश-अर्णम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन (Sg); द्विगु-समासः: अष्टादश अर्णानि यस्य = eighteen-syllabled (mantra)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: सम्बन्ध (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), विरोध/विशेषणार्थ (emphasis/contrast)

• शत्रु-नाम-अन्वितम्: joined with the enemy’s name
• शत्रु-नाम-अन्वितम्: कर्म-विशेषण (qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + नाम (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन (Sg); agrees with अर्णम्; तत्पुरुषः: शत्रोः नाम्ना अन्वितम् = accompanied with the enemy’s name

• लिखेत्: should write
• लिखेत्: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Sg)

• तेन: with that
• तेन: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N) (or पुंलिङ्ग M), तृतीया (Ins), एकवचन (Sg)

• मन्त्र-अभि-जप्तेन: (that) which has been recited over with the mantra
• मन्त्र-अभि-जप्तेन: करण-विशेषण (qualifier of instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अभि (उपसर्ग) + जप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-क्त (past passive participle) from अभि+जप्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), तृतीया (Ins), एकवचन (Sg); agrees with तेन; तत्पुरुषः: मन्त्रेण अभिजप्तः = consecrated by mantra-recitation

• शिरः-बद्ध्वेन: by (its being) tied on the head
• शिरः-बद्ध्वेन: करण/साधन (instrumental circumstance)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + बद्ध (कृदन्त-क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), तृतीया (Ins), एकवचन (Sg); तत्पुरुषः: शिरसि बद्धम् = bound on the head

• भूमिपः: the king
• भूमिपः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (Sg)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It presents a technical mantra-prayoga where sacred sound (mantra) is treated as a protective power when properly written, named, and ritually energized through japa.

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

Bhakti is implied through disciplined mantra-japa and reverence for the mantra’s divinity; the efficacy is linked to faithful repetition and correct observance rather than mere force.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual procedure (prayoga)—mantra composition/placement, name-insertion, and energizing through japa—skills aligned with technical disciplines discussed in the Third Pada.