Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 187

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

पांचजन्या प्रताराद्यो नमोंतः शंखपूजने । शार्ङ्गाय सशयांते च वर्मास्त्रं वह्निवल्लभा ॥ १८७ ॥

Transliteration

pāṃcajanyā pratārādyo namoṃtaḥ śaṃkhapūjane | śārṅgāya saśayāṃte ca varmāstraṃ vahnivallabhā || 187 ||

Translation

En la adoración de la caracola sagrada, han de emplearse los mantras que comienzan con «Pāñcajanyā…» y concluyen con «namo’ntaḥ». Asimismo, en la adoración de Śārṅga, el arco de Viṣṇu, se usan los (mantras) que terminan en «saśayānta»; y para el ‘arma-coraza’ protectora (varmāstra), el mantra es «Vahnivallabhā».

Word by Word

• पाञ्चजन्याः: (the) Pāñcajanya (names/epithets)
• पाञ्चजन्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चजन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रताराद्यः: beginning with ‘Pratāra’
• प्रताराद्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतार + आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Formulaic)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; विसर्गान्त निपात (particle/indeclinable interjection)

• अन्तः: at the end
• अन्तः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययीभावार्थे (adverbial: ‘at the end’)

• शङ्ख-पूजने: in the worship of the conch
• शङ्ख-पूजने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख + पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शार्ङ्गाय: for (the bow) Śārṅga
• शार्ङ्गाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्ङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन (Singular)

• स-शय-अन्ते: at the end, together with ‘śaya’
• स-शय-अन्ते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + शय (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्ययार्थे सप्तमी-प्राय (adverbial: ‘at the end with/along with …’)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• वर्म-अस्त्रम्: the ‘armor-weapon’ (mantra/term)
• वर्म-अस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन् + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); मन्त्रनाम (mantra-name usage)

• वह्नि-वल्लभा: Vahnivallabhā (name/epithet)
• वह्नि-वल्लभा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि + वल्लभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); मन्त्रनाम (mantra-name usage)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Pañcajanya
• Śārṅga
• Agni

FAQs

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

It teaches that even ritual details—specific mantra sequences for Viṣṇu’s sacred implements—are part of disciplined worship, aligning the devotee’s speech and intention with protection (varma) and devotion.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through reverent āyudha-pūjā: honoring Viṣṇu’s conch and bow with prescribed mantras, treating His symbols as living supports of remembrance and surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical mantra-application—identifying mantras by their opening (ādi) and closing (anta) words—an applied discipline connected to correct ritual recitation and procedure (prayoga).