Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 103

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

तर्पयित्वा खंडमिश्रदुग्धबुद्ध्या जलैरिह । जपेदष्टशतं मन्त्री भावयन्पुरुषोत्तमम् ॥ १०३ ॥

Transliteration

tarpayitvā khaṃḍamiśradugdhabuddhyā jalairiha | japedaṣṭaśataṃ mantrī bhāvayanpuruṣottamam || 103 ||

Translation

Après avoir accompli ici le tarpaṇa avec de l’eau, la tenant en pensée pour du lait mêlé de sucre, le pratiquant du mantra doit le réciter huit cents fois, en méditant sur Puruṣottama (Viṣṇu).

Word by Word

• तर्पयित्वा: having satisfied (offered libations)
• तर्पयित्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोजकात् क्त्वान्त (absolutive): तर्पयित्वा = having satisfied/propitiated

• खण्ड: sugar piece; lump
• खण्ड: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• मिश्र: mixed
• मिश्र: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (adjectival member in compound) (समासाङ्ग)

• दुग्ध: milk
• दुग्ध: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• बुद्ध्या: with the notion/intent
• बुद्ध्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• जलैः: with waters
• जलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• अष्टशतम्: eight hundred (times)
• अष्टशतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numeral compound): अष्टानां शतानि/अष्टशतम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (परिमाण/संख्या)

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

• भावयन्: meditating upon; contemplating
• भावयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle): भावयन्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (कर्तरि)

• पुरुषोत्तमम्: Puruṣottama (the Supreme Person)
• पुरुषोत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: पुरुषः स एव उत्तमः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Purusottama

FAQs

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

It teaches that inner intention (bhāvanā)—mentally offering refined nourishment like milk with sugar—can sanctify a simple water-offering, and that sustained japa joined to meditation on Puruṣottama completes the rite.

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

Bhakti is expressed through constant remembrance: the practitioner recites the mantra repeatedly while actively contemplating Viṣṇu as Puruṣottama, making ritual action inseparable from loving focused awareness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical ritual procedure: tarpana-vidhi, the use of bhāvanā (ritual visualization/intent), and a prescribed japa-saṅkhyā (aṣṭaśata—800 repetitions) typical of disciplined mantra practice.