Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

अष्टोत्तरशतेनांबु मंत्रितं विषनाशनम् । भूतापस्मारकृत्योत्थज्वरे तन्मंत्रमंत्रितैः ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭottaraśatenāṃbu maṃtritaṃ viṣanāśanam | bhūtāpasmārakṛtyotthajvare tanmaṃtramaṃtritaiḥ || 20 ||

Translation

Water, consecrated by reciting the mantra one hundred and eight times, becomes a destroyer of poison; and in fevers arising from spirit-affliction, epilepsy, or malevolent rites (kṛtyā), that same mantra—again used to consecrate—serves as the remedy.

Word by Word

• अष्टोत्तर-शतेन: by one hundred and eight (times)
• अष्टोत्तर-शतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट + उत्तर + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘by (the) hundred-and-eight’ (i.e., 108 times)

• अम्बु: water
• अम्बु: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; here as object with implied ‘(water) is/should be’

• मन्त्रितम्: mantra-consecrated
• मन्त्रितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्त्रि (धातु/नामधातु from मन्त्र)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘consecrated/enchanted (by mantra)’

• विष-नाशनम्: poison-destroying
• विष-नाशनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘poison-destroying’ (qualifying ambu/mantritam)

• भूत-अपस्मार-कृत्या-उत्थ-ज्वरे: in fever arising from spirits, epilepsy, and witchcraft
• भूत-अपस्मार-कृत्या-उत्थ-ज्वरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + अपस्मार + कृत्या + उत्थ + ज्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘in fever arising from spirits, epilepsy, and witchcraft’

• तत्-मन्त्र-मन्त्रितैः: with (items) consecrated by that mantra
• तत्-मन्त्र-मन्त्रितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम) + मन्त्र + मन्त्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘with things consecrated by that mantra’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual context to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It presents mantra as a śāstric means of protection and restoration—showing that disciplined japa and consecration (mantrita) can transform ordinary water into a remedial aid against harmful influences.

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

While primarily technical, it implies a bhakti-aligned discipline: repeated mantra-japa with faith and purity, where reliance on sacred sound and prescribed practice becomes a devotional act seeking divine protection.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights prayoga (applied ritual procedure): a fixed japa-saṅkhyā (108 recitations) and the use of mantra-consecrated water as a practical remedial measure for poison and specific fever-causes described in the tradition.