Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 176

Hanumān-mantra-kathana: Mantra-bheda, Nyāsa, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

दक्षहस्तेन मन्त्रज्ञः प्रत्यहं मंडला वधि । एवं कृते महाकारागृहान्मंत्री विमुच्यते ॥ १७६ ॥

Transliteration

dakṣahastena mantrajñaḥ pratyahaṃ maṃḍalā vadhi | evaṃ kṛte mahākārāgṛhānmaṃtrī vimucyate || 176 ||

Translation

De la main droite, le connaisseur des mantras doit accomplir le rite chaque jour jusqu’au terme prescrit du maṇḍala. Ainsi accompli, même celui qui est lié comme un prisonnier dans une grande geôle est délivré.

Word by Word

• दक्ष-हस्तेन: with the right hand
• दक्ष-हस्तेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (दक्षः हस्तः)

• मन्त्रज्ञः: the knower of mantras
• मन्त्रज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (कृदन्त; ज्ञा धातु, क)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—मन्त्रं जानाति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• प्रत्यहम्: every day
• प्रत्यहम्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय) + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of time)

• मण्डलात्: from the maṇḍala/circle
• मण्डलात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अवधि: up to; as far as
• अवधि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Limit marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अवधि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्ययम्; मर्यादा/सीमा-वाचक (limit-marker: up to/as far as)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• कृते: when (this) is done
• कृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/सप्तमी एकवचन; लोके—सप्तमी-absolute (locative absolute): ‘when it is done’

• महाकारागृहात्: from the great prison-house
• महाकारागृहात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + कारा (प्रातिपदिक) + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः—महती कारा यस्मिन् तत् गृहं (तत्पुरुष)

• मन्त्री: the mantra-practitioner
• मन्त्री: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विमुच्यते: is freed/released
• विमुच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि/मध्यस्थ-भावः (is released)

Speaker

Narada (instructional discourse in Vedanga/ritual practice section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that steady, daily mantra-practice maintained for the full prescribed cycle (maṇḍala) has liberating power, breaking bondage likened to imprisonment.

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

While framed as mantra-prayoga, it supports bhakti by emphasizing disciplined repetition and faithful observance over time—devotional practice that matures into inner freedom.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure (prayoga): using the right hand for prescribed acts and adhering to a fixed observance period (maṇḍala), reflecting technical discipline central to Vedanga-style practice.