Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

अथ शिष्यस्य शिरसि हस्तं दत्वा गुरुस्ततः । जपेदष्टोत्तरशतं देयमन्त्रं विधानतः ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

atha śiṣyasya śirasi hastaṃ datvā gurustataḥ | japedaṣṭottaraśataṃ deyamantraṃ vidhānataḥ || 37 ||

Translation

Alors le Guru, posant sa main sur la tête du disciple, doit réciter dûment, selon le rite prescrit, le mantra à conférer cent huit fois.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/सम्बन्धसूचक (sequence marker)

• शिष्यस्य: of the disciple
• शिष्यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Possessor/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• शिरसि: on the head
• शिरसि: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• हस्तम्: hand
• हस्तम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• दत्वा: having placed
• दत्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘दत्वा’ = having placed/given

• गुरुः: the teacher
• गुरुः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• ततः: thereupon
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/हेतुवाचक (then/from that)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अष्टोत्तरशतम्: one hundred and eight (times)
• अष्टोत्तरशतम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट-उत्तर-शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्या-समासः (अष्ट अधिकं शतम् = 108)

• देयमन्त्रम्: the mantra to be given
• देयमन्त्रम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देय-मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (देयः मन्त्रः)

• विधानतः: as prescribed
• विधानतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधानतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) = according to prescribed procedure

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a guru–śiṣya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Shishya

FAQs

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

It presents mantra-dīkṣā as a sanctified transmission: the guru’s touch (hand on the head) marks blessing and authorization, and the 108-fold japa seals the mantra’s proper installation through disciplined repetition.

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

By emphasizing receiving and practicing a “deya-mantra” under a guru’s guidance, it frames devotion as a lived discipline—bhakti is strengthened through properly initiated japa performed according to vidhi.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (vidhi) and correct practice of japa—especially the prescribed count of 108—reflect the technical, rule-governed approach characteristic of Vedāṅga-aligned ritual discipline.