Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

The Exposition of Nṛsiṁha Worship-Mantras, Nyāsa, Mudrās, Yantras, Kavaca, and Nṛsiṁha Gāyatrī

Devanagari script

हं बीजं इं तथा शक्तिर्विनियोगोऽखिलाप्तये । वेदैश्चतुर्भिर्वसुभिः षड्भिः षड्भिर्युगाक्षरैः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

haṃ bījaṃ iṃ tathā śaktirviniyogo'khilāptaye | vedaiścaturbhirvasubhiḥ ṣaḍbhiḥ ṣaḍbhiryugākṣaraiḥ || 17 ||

Translation

La syllabe-semence (bīja) est «haṃ», et la syllabe de puissance (śakti) est «iṃ». Son application (viniyoga) vise l’obtention de tous les buts. (Ceci est enseigné) par les quatre Veda, par les huit Vasu, par les six Vedāṅga, et par la formule à six syllabes du Yuga.

Word by Word

• हं: “haṃ” (seed syllable)
• हं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हं (बीजाक्षर-प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय; बीजाक्षर (mantric seed syllable)

• बीजम्: seed (mantric seed)
• बीजम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इं: “iṃ” (seed syllable)
• इं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इं (बीजाक्षर-प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय; बीजाक्षर

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण ‘likewise/also’

• शक्तिः: power (śakti)
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विनियोगः: application/assignment (ritual use)
• विनियोगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अखिल-आप्तये: for attaining everything
• अखिल-आप्तये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक) + आप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (अखिलस्य आप्तिः)

• वेदैः: by the Vedas
• वेदैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• चतुर्भिः: with four
• चतुर्भिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (agreeing with ‘वेदैः’)

• वसुभिः: with the eight Vasus
• वसुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• षड्भिः: with six
• षड्भिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• षड्भिः: with six
• षड्भिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• युग-अक्षरैः: with paired syllables / yuga-syllables
• युग-अक्षरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (युगस्य अक्षराणि/युगाक्षराणि)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vedas
• Vasus

FAQs

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

It frames mantra-prayoga in classical terms—bīja, śakti, and viniyoga—stating that correct assignment and use of the mantra is aimed at “akhilāpti,” the comprehensive attainment of intended results, grounded in Vedic authority and Vedāṅga methodology.

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

While primarily technical, it supports bhakti-practice indirectly: devotion expressed through disciplined mantra-japa and properly stated viniyoga becomes an ordered, Veda-aligned way to approach the deity and obtain spiritual and worldly aims without ritual confusion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-vidhi: identifying bīja and śakti syllables and stating viniyoga (purpose), a procedure preserved and operationalized through the Vedāṅgas (especially Śikṣā for phonetics, Vyākaraṇa for form, and Kalpa for ritual rules).