Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

नामार्णान्यचतुष्कात्तु द्वितीये मंत्रवर्णके । चतुष्के चेत्तदा पूर्वं यत्र नामाक्षरं स्थितम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

nāmārṇānyacatuṣkāttu dvitīye maṃtravarṇake | catuṣke cettadā pūrvaṃ yatra nāmākṣaraṃ sthitam || 8 ||

Translation

Si les syllabes du nom (les lettres formant le nom) ne se trouvent pas dans un groupe de quatre, alors, dans le deuxième quatuor des lettres du mantra—si l’on applique le quatuor—il faut les placer plus tôt, à l’endroit même où se tient la lettre du nom.

Word by Word

• नामार्णानि: name-letters
• नामार्णानि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाम + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘नाम्नः अर्णानि’ (letters of the name)

• चतुष्कात्: from the quartet (set of four)
• चतुष्कात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; ablative ‘from the group of four’

• तु: however/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषार्थक/विरोधार्थक

• द्वितीये: in the second
• द्वितीये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• मन्त्रवर्णके: in the mantra-letter (slot)
• मन्त्रवर्णके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + वर्णक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘मन्त्रस्य वर्णकः’ (mantra-letter position)

• चतुष्के: in the quartet
• चतुष्के: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: सम्बन्ध (Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक अव्यय (conditional particle ‘if’)

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• पूर्वम्: first
• पूर्वम्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal/Order)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक अव्यय (adverb ‘first/previously’)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: अधिकरण (Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक सम्बन्धबोधक अव्यय (relative adverb ‘where’)

• नामाक्षरम्: the name-letter
• नामाक्षरम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाम + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘नाम्नः अक्षरम्’

• स्थितम्: is placed
• स्थितम्: विधेय (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, active/intransitive sense), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘being placed/situated’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue instruction to Narada on technical mantra arrangement)

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 stresses disciplined, rule-based mantra formation: correct placement of the nāmākṣara (name-syllable) is treated as essential for the mantra’s intended ritual and spiritual effect.

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

Bhakti here is supported by precision in practice: devotion is expressed not only by feeling but by careful adherence to mantra-śāstra rules so the worship is properly aligned and effective.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics/letter arrangement) and Vyākaraṇa-style technical ordering are implied—specifically, how to handle letter-grouping (catuṣka) and where to position the name-syllable within a mantra’s letter sequence.