Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

षोडशार्णो युवा प्रौढश्चत्वारिंशतिवर्णकः । त्रिंशद्वर्णश्चतुःषष्टिवर्णश्चापि शताक्षरः ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

ṣoḍaśārṇo yuvā prauḍhaścatvāriṃśativarṇakaḥ | triṃśadvarṇaścatuḥṣaṣṭivarṇaścāpi śatākṣaraḥ || 40 ||

Translation

Un mantra de seize syllabes est dit « jeune » ; celui de quarante syllabes est « mûr ». De même, il existe des mantras de trente syllabes, de soixante-quatre syllabes, et aussi de cent syllabes.

Word by Word

• षोडशार्णः: sixteen-syllabled
• षोडशार्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश-अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; द्विगु—षोडश (sixteen) + अर्ण (syllable)

• युवा: a youth
• युवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• प्रौढः: mature
• प्रौढः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रौढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• चत्वारिंशतिवर्णकः: forty-lettered
• चत्वारिंशतिवर्णकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चत्वारिंशति-वर्णक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; द्विगु—चत्वारिंशति (forty) + वर्णक (having letters)

• त्रिंशद्वर्णः: thirty-lettered
• त्रिंशद्वर्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिंशत्-वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; द्विगु—त्रिंशत् (thirty) + वर्ण (letters)

• चतुःषष्टिवर्णः: sixty-four-lettered
• चतुःषष्टिवर्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुःषष्टि-वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; द्विगु—चतुःषष्टि (sixty-four) + वर्ण (letters)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• शताक्षरः: hundred-syllabled
• शताक्षरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत-अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; द्विगु—शत (hundred) + अक्षर (syllable)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/Shiksha context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It highlights that mantra-recitation is not arbitrary: mantras are traditionally classified by akṣara/varṇa count, reflecting a disciplined Vedic science (Śikṣā) that supports accurate chanting and ritual efficacy.

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

Indirectly, it supports Bhakti by emphasizing correct mantra-form and recitation standards; devotion in the Purāṇic-Vedic frame is strengthened when praise and japa are performed with proper śabda (sound) discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics) and mantra-technicality: counting akṣaras/varṇas to classify mantras (e.g., 16, 30, 40, 64, 100), which informs how chants are learned, paced, and applied in ritual/japa.