Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

प्राणस्तेजः स्थिरा वायुर्वायुश्चापि प्रभा तथा । ज्यकुमभ्रं तथा नादो दावकः पाथ इत्यथ ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

prāṇastejaḥ sthirā vāyurvāyuścāpi prabhā tathā | jyakumabhraṃ tathā nādo dāvakaḥ pātha ityatha || 19 ||

Translation

Now the tradition enumerates: prāṇa (vital breath), tejas (radiant heat), sthirā (steadiness), vāyu (wind), and again vāyu; also prabhā (lustre), jyakumabhra, nāda (sound resonance), dāvaka (fire), and pātha (recitation/reading).

Word by Word

• प्राणः: vital breath
• प्राणः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तेजः: splendor; energy
• तेजः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्थिरा: steady; fixed
• स्थिरा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वायुः: wind
• वायुः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वायुः: wind
• वायुः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय-प्रयोग (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-कार (also/even)

• प्रभा: radiance
• प्रभा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय-प्रयोग (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक

• ज्यकुमभ्रम्: (a technical term; uncertain)
• ज्यकुमभ्रम्: कर्ता/कर्म (context-dependent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्यकुमभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; दुर्लभ/पाठभेद-संभव (rare/possibly corrupt reading)

• तथा: also
• तथा: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय-प्रयोग (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• नादः: sound; resonance
• नादः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दावकः: forest-fire; burner
• दावकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पाथः: water; drink
• पाथः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-समाप्ति (Quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative)

• अथ: then; now
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय-प्रयोग (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तर (then/now)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/Śikṣā context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It frames mantra-recitation as a disciplined science where breath (prāṇa), inner heat/clarity (tejas), steadiness (sthiratā), and resonance (nāda) are treated as essential factors—showing that sacred sound is preserved through precise energetic and phonetic control.

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

While technical, it supports bhakti indirectly: devotion expressed through japa and pāṭha becomes effective and tradition-faithful when the reciter maintains steady mind and breath, producing clear nāda—turning worship into correct, potent mantra-offering.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedāṅga phonetics): it emphasizes the mechanics behind correct chanting—breath control (prāṇa), resonance (nāda), and disciplined delivery (pātha)—all crucial for preserving Vedic sound and ritual accuracy.