Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya

Devanagari script

प्रत्येकं मन्त्रमुञ्चार्य नाव्यानां तान्समुञ्चरेत् । अनुलोमे बिंदुयुक्तान्विलोमे सर्गसंयुतान् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

pratyekaṃ mantramuñcārya nāvyānāṃ tānsamuñcaret | anulome biṃduyuktānvilome sargasaṃyutān || 10 ||

Translation

Après avoir prononcé chaque mantra séparément, on doit ensuite les réciter en combinaison. Dans l’ordre direct, on les énonce avec le bindu/anusvāra ; dans l’ordre inverse, avec le visarga (sarga).

Word by Word

• प्रत्येकम्: each (one by one)
• प्रत्येकम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय) + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverb) ‘one by one/each’

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उच्चार्य: having uttered
• उच्चार्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-चर् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘उच्चार्य’ = having uttered

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• अव्यानाम्: of the unworthy/impure
• अव्यानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of the unfit/impure)

• तान्: those (mantras)
• तान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• समुच्चरेत्: should recite (together)
• समुच्चरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उद्-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; विध्यर्थः (should not recite together)

• अनुलोमे: in the normal/forward order
• अनुलोमे: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनुलोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे/क्रियाविशेषणवत्; सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial locative) ‘in the forward order’

• बिन्दु-युक्तान्: endowed with bindu (nasal dot)
• बिन्दु-युक्तान्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तृतीया/सम्बन्ध), ‘बिन्दुना युक्तान्’

• विलोमे: in reverse order
• विलोमे: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विलोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे/क्रियाविशेषणवत्; सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial locative) ‘in reverse order’

• सर्ग-संयुतान्: joined with visarga
• सर्ग-संयुतान्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक; visarga) + संयुत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तृतीया/सम्बन्ध), ‘सर्गेण (विसर्गेण) संयुतान्’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on technical recitation/phonetics within Vedanga practice)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes mantra-śuddhi (purity/precision of mantra) by prescribing exact phonetic markers; correct sound is treated as essential for the mantra’s intended spiritual and ritual efficacy.

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

While technical, it supports bhakti practice by insisting that devotional japa and Vedic recitation be done with disciplined pronunciation, showing devotion expressed through careful, reverent method.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics) is highlighted—specifically how anusvāra (bindu) and visarga (sarga) are applied when reciting mantras in forward (anuloma) and reverse (viloma) sequences.