Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 90

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

एषा नवाक्षरी नित्या भेरुण्डा सर्वसिद्धिदा । प्रणवं ठद्वयं त्यक्त्वा मध्यस्थैः षड्भिरक्षरैः ॥ ९० ॥

Transliteration

eṣā navākṣarī nityā bheruṇḍā sarvasiddhidā | praṇavaṃ ṭhadvayaṃ tyaktvā madhyasthaiḥ ṣaḍbhirakṣaraiḥ || 90 ||

Translation

This is the eternal nine-syllabled mantra, called Bheruṇḍā, the giver of all attainments. One should omit the praṇava (Oṁ) and the pair of syllables “ṭha,” and form it with the six syllables placed in the middle.

Word by Word

• एषा: this (she/this one)
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• नव-अक्षरी: nine-syllabled
• नव-अक्षरी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव + अक्षरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः—नव अक्षराणि यस्याः (having nine syllables)

• नित्या: eternal
• नित्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• भेरुण्डा: Bheruṇḍā (name)
• भेरुण्डा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेरुण्डा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्

• सर्वसिद्धिदा: giver of all accomplishments
• सर्वसिद्धिदा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + सिद्धि + दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—सर्वाः सिद्धयः ददाति (giver of all attainments)

• प्रणवम्: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचनम्

• ठद्वयम्: the pair ‘ṭha’
• ठद्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ठ + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचनम्; द्विगु—ठ-इति द्वयम् (the pair of ‘ṭha’)

• त्यक्त्वा: having omitted
• त्यक्त्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; धातु: त्यज् (to abandon)

• मध्यस्थैः: by the middle-placed
• मध्यस्थैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (those placed in the middle)

• षड्भिः: by six
• षड्भिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षड् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचनम्; संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम्

• अक्षरैः: with syllables/letters
• अक्षरैः: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचनम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/mantra-vidya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It highlights mantra-śāstra principles: the power of a specific navākṣarī mantra (Bheruṇḍā) and how siddhi is linked to precise akṣara (syllable) arrangement and recitation rules.

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

Indirectly: it frames disciplined mantra-japa as a supporting limb to devotion—showing that bhakti-oriented practice in the Purāṇic tradition often includes exact, reverent handling of sacred sound.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics) and related mantra-formation rules: identifying syllable counts (navākṣarī), specifying omissions (praṇava, ṭhadvaya), and emphasizing correct akṣara placement for effective japa.