Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 101

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

मंत्रो नवाक्षरोऽस्यापि यजनं पूर्ववन्मतम् । ङेतं रामपद पश्चाद्धृदयं पंचवणवत् ॥ १०१ ॥

Transliteration

maṃtro navākṣaro'syāpi yajanaṃ pūrvavanmatam | ṅetaṃ rāmapada paścāddhṛdayaṃ paṃcavaṇavat || 101 ||

Translation

Pour ce (mantra) aussi, le mantra est de neuf syllabes ; son culte (yajana) est tenu pour conforme à ce qui fut enseigné auparavant. Après avoir placé le mot « Rāma », qu’on ajoute la syllabe-semence du cœur (hṛdaya), selon la manière de la formule à cinq lettres.

Word by Word

• मन्त्रः: mantra
• मन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नव-अक्षरः: nine-syllabled
• नव-अक्षरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• यजनम्: worship/ritual offering
• यजनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• मतम्: considered/held to be
• मतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ङेतम्: the syllable ‘ṅe’ (seed)
• ङेतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ङेत (प्रातिपदिक/बीजाक्षर-नाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; बीजाक्षर-निर्देश (seed-syllable designation)

• राम-पद: the word ‘Rāma’
• राम-पद: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• हृदयम्: the ‘heart’ (hṛdaya) part
• हृदयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• पञ्च-वर्णवत्: like (that which is) five-lettered
• पञ्च-वर्णवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्णवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग (indeclinable-like adjective in -वत्), क्रियाविशेषणार्थे/उपमानार्थे; ‘having five syllables/letters’ sense

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rama

FAQs

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

It codifies a precise mantra-vidhi: the efficacy of worship is tied to correct mantra structure (nine syllables) and the prescribed addition of the hṛdaya element, showing that devotion is strengthened by disciplined, tradition-based practice.

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

By centering the formula on the name “Rāma” and prescribing a repeatable worship method, it frames bhakti as both heartfelt remembrance of the Lord’s name and faithful adherence to the authorized ritual sequence taught by the sages.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-śāstra procedure: syllable-count (akṣara), correct sequencing of mantra components (pada + hṛdaya), and a standardized patterning “like the five-letter method,” reflecting technical liturgical knowledge used in nyāsa and ritual worship.