Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

प्रणवोऽग्निप्रिया मंत्रो नेत्रबाणाधराक्षरः । दत्तात्रेयो मुनिर्मालामंत्रस्य परिकीर्तितः ॥ ९१ ॥

Transliteration

praṇavo'gnipriyā maṃtro netrabāṇādharākṣaraḥ | dattātreyo munirmālāmaṃtrasya parikīrtitaḥ || 91 ||

Translation

For the mālā-mantra (garland-mantra), the praṇava (Oṁ) is declared to be the mantra; Agni-priyā is its presiding power; the syllables are Netra, Bāṇa, and Ādhara; and the sage Dattātreya is proclaimed as its seer.

Word by Word

• प्रणवः: Praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अग्निप्रिया: beloved of Agni
• अग्निप्रिया: Vishesana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अग्नेः प्रिया)

• मन्त्रः: mantra
• मन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नेत्रबाणाधराक्षरः: the syllable bearing the ‘netra-bāṇa’ (name/epithet)
• नेत्रबाणाधराक्षरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र + बाण + धर + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (नेत्रबाणं धरति इति; धर-उपपद)

• दत्तात्रेयः: Dattātreya
• दत्तात्रेयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दत्त + आत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; कर्मधारय (दत्तः आत्रेयः)

• मुनिः: sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मालामन्त्रस्य: of the mālā-mantra
• मालामन्त्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माला + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मालायाः मन्त्रः)

• परिकीर्तितः: is declared; is proclaimed
• परिकीर्तितः: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कीर्त (धातु √कीर्त्)
• Form: कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Past passive participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical mantra-lakshana style within the Narada Purana dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Pranava (Om)
• Agni
• Dattatreya

FAQs

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

It encodes the mantra’s formal identity—its core seed (Oṁ), its associated śakti/devatā (Agni-priyā), its component syllables, and its ṛṣi (Dattātreya)—showing that mantra-japa is meant to be done with correct lineage and ritual cognition, not merely sound.

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

By grounding practice in praṇava and a named ṛṣi, it frames devotion as disciplined upāsanā: remembrance (japa) supported by proper mantra-knowledge, which steadies the mind and makes worship more focused and reverent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-lakṣaṇa used in ritual practice—identifying ṛṣi, devatā/śakti, and akṣaras of a mantra—reflecting the technical, Vedanga-adjacent methodology emphasized in Book 1.3.