Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

Mantraśodhana, Dīkṣā-krama, Guru-Pādukā, Ajapā-Haṃsa, and Ṣaṭcakra-Kuṇḍalinī Sādhana

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । परीक्ष्य शिष्यं तु गुरुर्मंत्रशोधनमाचरेत् । प्राक्प्रत्यग्दक्षिणोदक्चपंचसूत्राणि पातयेत् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | parīkṣya śiṣyaṃ tu gururmaṃtraśodhanamācaret | prākpratyagdakṣiṇodakcapaṃcasūtrāṇi pātayet || 1 ||

Translation

Sanatkumāra dit : après avoir d’abord éprouvé le disciple, le guru doit accomplir la purification du mantra ; puis faire disposer les cinq fils sacrés selon les directions — est, ouest, sud et nord.

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumara
• सनत्कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• परीक्ष्य: having examined
• परीक्ष्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• शिष्यम्: the disciple
• शिष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे (but/indeed)

• गुरुः: the teacher
• गुरुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मन्त्र-शोधनम्: purification of the mantra
• मन्त्र-शोधनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): मन्त्रस्य शोधनम्

• आचरेत्: should perform/practice
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• प्राक्: eastward / in the east
• प्राक्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), दिशावाचक/कालवाचक (eastward/previously)

• प्रत्यक्: westward
• प्रत्यक्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रत्यक् (अव्यय/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (directional indeclinable), पश्चिमाभिमुख (westward)

• दक्षिण: southward
• दक्षिण: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: दिशावाचक-अव्यय (directional indeclinable)

• उदक्: northward
• उदक्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उदक् (अव्यय/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: दिशावाचक-अव्यय (directional indeclinable), उत्तराभिमुख (northward)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• पञ्च-सूत्राणि: the five threads/lines
• पञ्च-सूत्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); द्विगु-समास (numeral compound)

• पातयेत्: should cause to fall/place down
• पातयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु) [णिच् causative: पातय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Guru
• Shishya

FAQs

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

It establishes that mantra-practice must begin with eligibility: the guru tests the disciple and then performs mantra-śodhana, emphasizing purity, discipline, and correct transmission in the guru–śiṣya tradition.

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

While technical, it supports bhakti by insisting that devotional mantra (japa/upāsanā) be received and purified properly through a qualified guru, so devotion is grounded in correct method and inner readiness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure and directional arrangement used in mantra-śodhana—an applied, technical aspect aligned with Vedāṅga-style discipline (especially kalpa/ritual method) within Narada Purana’s third pada.