Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

पूर्वमंत्राक्षरैर्मंत्रैः स्वाहांतैश्च चतुश्चतुः । मूलमंत्रैश्चतुर्वारपूर्वकं संप्रतर्प्य च ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

pūrvamaṃtrākṣarairmaṃtraiḥ svāhāṃtaiśca catuścatuḥ | mūlamaṃtraiścaturvārapūrvakaṃ saṃpratarpya ca || 42 ||

Translation

Ensuite, au moyen de mantras composés des syllabes du mantra précédent—chacun se terminant par « svāhā »—qu’il offre des libations propitiatoires quatre fois pour chacun ; puis, avec le mantra racine (mūla-mantra), qu’il accomplisse de nouveau la satisfaction rituelle, précédée de quatre récitations.

Word by Word

• पूर्व-मन्त्र-अक्षरैः: with the syllables of the prior mantra
• पूर्व-मन्त्र-अक्षरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पूर्वस्य मन्त्रस्य अक्षराणि)

• मन्त्रैः: with mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural

• स्वाहा-अन्तैः: ending with “svāhā”
• स्वाहा-अन्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाहा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्वाहायाः अन्तः येषां ते)

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

• चतुḥ: four times
• चतुḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः (numeral adverb)

• चतुḥ: four (each)
• चतुḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः (repetition for distributive sense)

• मूल-मन्त्रैः: with the root-mantras
• मूल-मन्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मूलः मन्त्रः)

• चतुर्-वार-पूर्वकम्: preceded by four repetitions (i.e., four times beforehand)
• चतुर्-वार-पूर्वकम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + वार (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन-रूपेण क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial accusative)

• सं-प्र-तर्प्य: having duly satisfied (offered oblations)
• सं-प्र-तर्प्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; उपसर्गाः—सम्, प्र; ‘having satisfied/propitiated’

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

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue instructing Narada on technical ritual procedure)

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 emphasizes that spiritual efficacy in tarpana/propitiation depends on correct mantra construction (syllables and “svāhā” ending) and disciplined repetition counts, reflecting the Purana’s technical, Vedanga-oriented approach to ritual power.

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

While primarily procedural, the verse supports bhakti by prescribing a careful, reverent method of offering—showing that devotion is expressed through precise, faithful performance of mantra-led worship and satisfaction (tarpana) of the invoked sacred principle.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga and ritual counting (a practical aspect aligned with Śikṣā and Kalpa): how to form mantras from prior mantra-syllables, append “svāhā,” and apply fourfold repetitions before using the mūla-mantra.