Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

महोल्कायेति चास्रं स्यादित्थं पंचांगकल्पना । पुनः षडंगमंत्रोत्थैः षड्वर्णैश्च समाचरेत् ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

maholkāyeti cāsraṃ syāditthaṃ paṃcāṃgakalpanā | punaḥ ṣaḍaṃgamaṃtrotthaiḥ ṣaḍvarṇaiśca samācaret || 6 ||

Translation

La formule-arme (astra) est « Maholkāya » ; ainsi se constitue l’agencement en cinq membres (pañcāṅga). Ensuite, il convient de la pratiquer de nouveau au moyen des six syllabes issues des mantras à six membres (ṣaḍaṅga).

Word by Word

• महोल्काय: to/for ‘Maholkā’
• महोल्काय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + उल्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—कर्मधारय

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थ (quotative particle: 'thus')

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

• अस्त्रम्: weapon (astra)
• अस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); धातु: अस् (to be)

• इत्थम्: in this way
• इत्थम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'in this manner')

• पञ्चाङ्गकल्पना: the five-limbed arrangement
• पञ्चाङ्गकल्पना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + अङ्ग + कल्पना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पञ्चानाम् अङ्गानाम् कल्पना)

• पुनः: again, further
• पुनः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'again/further')

• षडङ्गमन्त्रोत्थैः: by those arising from the six-limbed mantra
• षडङ्गमन्त्रोत्थैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् + अङ्ग + मन्त्र + उत्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षडङ्ग-मन्त्र-उत्थ = arising from the six-limbed mantra)

• षड्वर्णैः: with six syllables/letters
• षड्वर्णैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—द्विगु (षट् वर्णाः)

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

• समाचरेत्: should perform/practice
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); धातु: चर् (to practice/perform)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined mantra-application: a mantra is not merely recited but methodically ‘constructed’ through prescribed limbs (aṅgas), aligning speech and intention with ritual order.

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

Though technical, it supports bhakti by teaching correct sacred procedure—devotion expressed as careful, reverent performance of mantra-vidhi rather than casual utterance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical mantra-vidhi: pañcāṅga (fivefold arrangement) and ṣaḍaṅga (six auxiliary components) usage, including syllabic precision (ṣaḍvarṇa) typical of ritual and phonetic discipline.