Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

प्राणायामाश्च चत्वारो राजसर्षपमात्रके । गौरसर्षपमानं तु हृत्वा हेम विचक्षणः ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

prāṇāyāmāśca catvāro rājasarṣapamātrake | gaurasarṣapamānaṃ tu hṛtvā hema vicakṣaṇaḥ || 46 ||

Translation

Les quatre formes de prāṇāyāma doivent être mesurées selon l’unité d’un « grain de moutarde royal » ; et le pratiquant avisé doit aussi prendre en compte la mesure d’un « grain de moutarde blanc », ô sage.

Word by Word

• प्राणायामाः: prāṇāyāmas (breath-controls)
• प्राणायामाः: कर्म (कर्मकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणायाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

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

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: विशेषण (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् (numeral adjective)

• राज-सर्षप-मात्रके: in the measure of a rāja-mustard seed
• राज-सर्षप-मात्रके: अधिकरण (अधिकरणकारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राज (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्षप (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरणे (locative) “in the measure of a rāja-mustard-seed”

• गौर-सर्षप-मानम्: a measure of a white mustard seed
• गौर-सर्षप-मानम्: कर्म (कर्मकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौर (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्षप (प्रातिपदिक) + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle: “but/indeed”)

• हृत्वा: having taken (away)
• हृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (अनुक्रम/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• हेम: gold
• हेम: कर्म (कर्मकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेमन्/हेम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (अध्याहृतं कर्म)

• विचक्षणः: the discerning person
• विचक्षणः: कर्ता (कर्तृकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-चक्ष् (धातु) → विचक्षण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणवत् कर्तरि (one who is discerning)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada; addressing a listener named Hema in this verse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Hema

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that prāṇāyāma is not vague or merely symbolic—its efficacy depends on disciplined, precise regulation, reflecting the Purāṇa’s insistence on measured practice as a support for inner steadiness.

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

While the verse is technical, it supports bhakti indirectly: steady breath and regulated senses reduce distraction, making the mind fit for sustained remembrance, japa, and devotion-centered contemplation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights traditional technical measurement used in ritual-yogic contexts—precision and standard units of counting—echoing the Vedāṅga spirit of exactness applied to practice (especially śikṣā-style attention to timing and regulation).