Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

वेदलक्षं जपेन्मंत्रं किंशुकैस्तद्दशांशतः । हुत्वा तु पूजयेन्मन्त्री विंशत्यर्णविधानतः ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

vedalakṣaṃ japenmaṃtraṃ kiṃśukaistaddaśāṃśataḥ | hutvā tu pūjayenmantrī viṃśatyarṇavidhānataḥ || 29 ||

Translation

Debe recitarse el mantra cien mil veces; luego, ofrecer en el fuego (homa) flores de kiṃśuka (palāśa) en una décima parte de ese número; y después, el practicante ha de adorar conforme al rito prescrito del mantra de veinte sílabas (viṃśaty-arṇa).

Word by Word

• वेदलक्षम्: a lakh (100,000) times / to the measure of a lakh
• वेदलक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद-लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (लक्षसंख्यकं वेद/वेदसम्बद्धं—अत्र ‘लक्षं’ = 100,000)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• किंशुकैः: with kiṃśuka (palāśa) flowers/wood
• किंशुकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंशुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण/साधन

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; ‘that’ referring to the japa-count

• दशांशतः: as one-tenth (thereof)
• दशांशतः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दश-अंश (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तसिल्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘by a tenth part / as one-tenth’

• हुत्वा: having offered oblations
• हुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund), ‘having offered (into fire)’

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Discourse (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधसूचक निपात (particle)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मन्त्री: the mantra-practitioner
• मन्त्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• विंशत्यर्णविधानतः: according to the twenty-syllable procedure
• विंशत्यर्णविधानतः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विंशति-अर्ण-विधान (प्रातिपदिक; अर्ण = syllable) + तस् (तसिल्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विंशत्यर्णस्य विधानम्) + तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय: ‘according to the procedure of the twenty-syllabled (mantra)’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Agni
• Kiṃśuka (Palāśa)

FAQs

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

It sets a disciplined sādhana structure: extensive japa to internalize the mantra, followed by a proportionate homa (one-tenth) to ritually seal and sanctify the practice, culminating in deity-worship according to a fixed vidhāna.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through regulated worship—repetition of the Lord’s mantra, offerings into sacred fire, and formal pūjā—showing devotion as steady, count-based, and scripture-aligned service rather than mere emotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual science (kalpa/vidhāna): prescribed counts (lakṣa-japa and daśāṃśa-homa), correct materials (kiṃśuka), and mantra-structure awareness (viṃśaty-arṇa—twenty syllables).