Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

तारहृत्पूर्वकं ङेंतं नारायणपदं भवेत् । अष्टाक्षरो मनुश्चास्य साध्यो नारायणो मुनिः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

tārahṛtpūrvakaṃ ṅeṃtaṃ nārāyaṇapadaṃ bhavet | aṣṭākṣaro manuścāsya sādhyo nārāyaṇo muniḥ || 3 ||

Translation

Lorsque la syllabe « tāra » est placée d’abord et jointe aux syllabes restantes, elle devient le nom « Nārāyaṇa ». C’est le mantra de huit syllabes ; son ṛṣi président est Nārāyaṇa.

Word by Word

• तारहृत्पूर्वकम्: preceded by ‘tāra’ and ‘hṛt’
• तारहृत्पूर्वकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तार + हृत् + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पूर्वकं = preceded by; तार-हृत्-पूर्वकं)

• ङेंतम्: the ‘ṅeṃta’ (syllabic element)
• ङेंतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ङेन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); मन्त्र/वर्ण-समूह-नाम (technical term)

• नारायणपदम्: the word/name ‘Nārāyaṇa’
• नारायणपदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नारायणस्य पदम्)

• भवेत्: should be / becomes
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); धातु: भू (to be/become)

• अष्टाक्षरः: the eight-syllabled (mantra)
• अष्टाक्षरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—द्विगु (अष्ट अक्षराणि यस्य)

• मनुः: the mantra
• मनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र/मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• साध्यः: to be accomplished / attainable
• साध्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Vedanga/Mantra-vidhi context, traditionally within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayaṇa
• Vishnu
• Om (Tara)

FAQs

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

It identifies ‘Nārāyaṇa’ as a structured mantra derived through syllabic formation and affirms its mantra-framework (aṣṭākṣarī) with Nārāyaṇa as the presiding ṛṣi, guiding correct japa and sādhanā.

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

By centering devotion on the divine Name as mantra—‘Nārāyaṇa’—it presents bhakti as disciplined remembrance (japa) where the Name itself becomes the means and the goal (sādhya) of realization.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-technical principles used in Vedic practice—syllabic construction, identification of the mantra (manu), and attribution of ṛṣi/devatā—key elements for correct recitation and ritual application.