Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Gaṇeśa Mantra-vidhi: Mahāgaṇapati Gāyatrī, Vakratuṇḍa Mantra, Nyāsa, Homa, Āvaraṇa-pūjā, and Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

एवं ध्यात्वा चतुश्चत्वारिंशत्साहस्रसंयुतम् । चतुर्लक्षं जपेन्मंत्रं अष्टद्रव्यैर्दशांशतः ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ dhyātvā catuścatvāriṃśatsāhasrasaṃyutam | caturlakṣaṃ japenmaṃtraṃ aṣṭadravyairdaśāṃśataḥ || 18 ||

Translation

Après avoir ainsi médité, qu’on récite le mantra quatre cent mille fois, en y joignant le compte prescrit de quarante-quatre mille ; puis qu’on offre le dixième de ce total en oblations, au moyen de huit substances rituelles.

Word by Word

• evam: thus/in this manner
• evam: Kriya-visheshana (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• dhyātvā: having meditated
• dhyātvā: Purvakalika Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhyai (धातु)
• Form: Ktva Pratyaya (Gerund/Absolutive)

• catuścatvāriṃśatsāhasrasaṃyutam: joined with forty-four thousand
• catuścatvāriṃśatsāhasrasaṃyutam: Visheshana (Adjective to Mantra count)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catuścatvāriṃśat-sāhasra-saṃyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• caturlakṣam: four lakhs (400,000)
• caturlakṣam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur-lakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• japet: should chant/recite
• japet: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Potential Mood), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• mantram: the mantra
• mantram: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• aṣṭadravyaiḥ: with eight substances
• aṣṭadravyaiḥ: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭadravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• daśāṃśataḥ: by one-tenth part
• daśāṃśataḥ: Apadaan/Hetu (Source/Measure)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: daśāṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tasil Pratyaya (Suffix indicating 'from' or 'by')

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It frames mantra-sādhana as a complete discipline: meditation (dhyāna) first, then a fixed japa count, and finally a proportional offering (daśāṃśa) to seal the practice through yajña-like ritual action.

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

By insisting on dhyāna before japa, it emphasizes inward remembrance and focused contemplation as the heart of devotional practice, with the ritual component supporting steadiness and sanctity of worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights procedural ritual knowledge: fixed numerical discipline in japa and the daśāṃśa rule for homa/offerings, along with the use of specified dravyas (ritual substances) as part of formal mantra practice.