Shloka 11

पुंसां क्रिया-विभागः, संस्काराः, नामकरणम्, विवाहविधानम्

Devanagari script

नातिदीर्घं न ह्रस्वं वा नातिगुर्वक्षरान्वितम् सुखोच्चार्यं तु तन् नाम कुर्याद् यत् प्रवणाक्षरम्

Transliteration

nātidīrghaṃ na hrasvaṃ vā nātigurvakṣarānvitam sukhoccāryaṃ tu tan nāma kuryād yat pravaṇākṣaram

Translation

The name should be neither excessively long nor unduly short, nor burdened with heavy, difficult syllables; rather, let it be easy to pronounce, naturally inclining the heart toward reverence and devotion.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• अति-दीर्घम्: too long
• अति-दीर्घम्: विशेषण (of nāma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); अव्ययीभावः: अतिदीर्घ = 'excessively long'

• न: nor
• न: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• ह्रस्वम्: too short
• ह्रस्वम्: विशेषण (of nāma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्रस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• न: nor
• न: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• अति-गुरु-अक्षर-अन्वितम्: having too many heavy syllables
• अति-गुरु-अक्षर-अन्वितम्: विशेषण (of nāma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (अन्-इ/अन्वि धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त 'अन्वित' = 'endowed with'; समासार्थः: 'endowed with excessively many heavy syllables'

• सुख-उच्चार्यम्: easy to pronounce
• सुख-उच्चार्यम्: विशेषण (of nāma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + उच्चार्य (उच्चर् धातु, ण्यत्/यत्; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); 'उच्चार्य' = उच्चर्-धातोः ण्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: 'easy to pronounce')

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (contrast/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')

• तत्: that (such)
• तत्: विशेषण (of nāma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); 'नाम' विशेषण

• नाम: name
• नाम: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुर्यात्: should make/choose
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• यत्: which
• यत्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• प्रवण-अक्षरम्: having agreeable/sonorous syllables
• प्रवण-अक्षरम्: विशेषण (of yāt/nāma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवण (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः: प्रवणाक्षर = 'having pleasant/sonorous syllables (lit. inclined/soft syllables)'

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Phonetic and devotional suitability of names: moderate length, light syllables, easy pronunciation, and a reverence-bending (pravaṇa) quality

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: compassionate and practical

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A name should be speakable and naturally reverence-inducing, so that utterance itself becomes a gentle practice of devotion rather than a burden of sound.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Adopt and repeat divine names/mantras that are clear and heartfelt; let daily speech include remembrance that softens the mind toward humility and worship.

Vishishtadvaita: The verse implies nāma as a practical conduit of grace: accessible utterance that turns the heart (pravaṇa) toward the Lord, aligning with Viśiṣṭādvaita’s emphasis on loving surrender expressed through simple practices.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• The Divine Name (Nāma)
• Mantra/Japa practitioner (Sādhaka)

FAQs

What is the significance of choosing an easy-to-pronounce divine Name in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse teaches that a Name used for japa should be simple and naturally devotional, so the practitioner can sustain remembrance without strain and keep the mind inclined toward reverence.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the practical rule for selecting a mantra or nāma?

Parāśara advises avoiding extremes (too long/too short) and harsh, heavy syllables, and instead choosing a form that flows easily in recitation and supports steady devotion.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

The instruction assumes Vishnu as the supreme refuge, where the Divine Name functions as an accessible support for continual remembrance—linking disciplined practice (japa) with devotion and liberation.