Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

आदिमध्यावसानेषु हंसः प्रासादवाग्भवौ । हंसेंदुर्वा सकारो वा फकारो वर्म वा पुन ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

ādimadhyāvasāneṣu haṃsaḥ prāsādavāgbhavau | haṃseṃdurvā sakāro vā phakāro varma vā puna || 27 ||

Translation

Au commencement, au milieu et à la fin (de la formule prescrite), on peut placer la bīja « haṃsa » ; ou bien employer « prāsāda » et « vāgbhava ». Ou encore, on peut utiliser « haṃsa–indu », ou la syllabe « sa », ou la syllabe « pha », ou de nouveau la bīja protectrice appelée « varma ».

Word by Word

• आदि-मध्य-अवसानेषु: in the beginning, middle, and end
• आदि-मध्य-अवसानेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि + मध्य + अवसान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (आदि+मध्य+अवसान) ; Locative plural: "in the beginning, middle, and end"

• हंसः: the haṃsa (syllable/term)
• हंसः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• प्रासाद-वाक्-भवौ: (as) prāsāda and vāgbhava (two forms)
• प्रासाद-वाक्-भवौ: समनाधिकरण/विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद + वाक् + भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (प्रासादः + वाक् + भवः) ; Nominative dual

• हंस-इन्दुः: haṃsa-moon (haṃsendu)
• हंस-इन्दुः: समनाधिकरण/विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (हंसस्य इन्दुः)

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: "or")

• सकारः: the letter/phoneme ‘sa’
• सकारः: समनाधिकरण/विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय ("or")

• फकारः: the letter/phoneme ‘pha’
• फकारः: समनाधिकरण/विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वर्म: armor; protective syllable
• वर्म: समनाधिकरण/विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन्/वर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय ("or")

• पुनः: again; further
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरर्थक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: "again/further")

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches the regulated placement of specific bīja-syllables (like haṃsa, vāgbhava, varma) within a mantra, emphasizing that spiritual efficacy depends on precise sound-structure and protective/clarifying mantra components.

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

In the Narada Purana’s technical sections, devotion is supported by disciplined mantra-practice: correct bīja usage is presented as a means to steady the mind and invoke divine grace, making bhakti more focused and effective.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-vidhi are implied—how syllables are inserted in specific positions (beginning/middle/end) and how protective bīja-s like “varma” are used as ritual-technical safeguards.