Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 114

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

Devanagari script

एवं ध्यात्वार्चयेन्मन्त्री स्यादंगैः प्रथमावृतिः । श्रीकामः सस्वराद्यानि कलाब्जैर्वैष्णवोत्तमः ॥ ११४ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ dhyātvārcayenmantrī syādaṃgaiḥ prathamāvṛtiḥ | śrīkāmaḥ sasvarādyāni kalābjairvaiṣṇavottamaḥ || 114 ||

Translation

Ayant ainsi médité, le connaisseur du mantra doit accomplir l’arcanā (culte); la première enceinte (āvaraṇa) se réalise avec les mantras des aṅgas. Le vaiṣṇava le plus éminent, désireux de śrī (prospérité et grâce), doit adorer les parties syllabiques, en commençant par les voyelles (svaras), au moyen des « lotus des kalās » (kalā-abjas).

Word by Word

• evaṃ: thus
• evaṃ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evaṃ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक = thus/in this manner

• dhyātvā: having meditated
• dhyātvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhyai (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having meditated’

• arcayet: should worship
• arcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arc (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• mantrī: the mantra-practitioner
• mantrī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• syāt: may be / should be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• aṃgaiḥ: with the limbs/parts (of worship)
• aṃgaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• prathamā-āvṛtiḥ: the first round (of worship)
• prathamā-āvṛtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prathamā (प्रातिपदिक) + āvṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विधेय), एकवचन; ‘first’ qualifying ‘cycle/round’

• śrī-kāmaḥ: desiring prosperity
• śrī-kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘desirous of prosperity/Śrī’

• sa-svara-ādyāni: (items) with svara etc. (intonations and the like)
• sa-svara-ādyāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक/उपपद) + svara (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; ‘with svara etc.’

• kalābjaiḥ: with kalābja-s (ritual lotuses/arts)
• kalābjaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalābja (प्रातिपदिक; kalā + abja)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; abja = lotus; kalābja = lotus-like digits/arts (contextual ritual term)

• vaiṣṇava-uttamaḥ: the best Vaiṣṇava
• vaiṣṇava-uttamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiṣṇava (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विधेय), एकवचन; ‘best among Vaiṣṇavas’

Speaker

Narada (teaching arcana/mantra procedure in the Vedanga-technical section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shri (Lakshmi)

FAQs

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

It links inner contemplation (dhyāna) with outer worship (arcana), teaching that correct ritual order—beginning with the first āvaraṇa using aṅga-mantras—stabilizes devotion and invokes auspiciousness (śrī).

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined Vaiṣṇava pūjā: meditate on the deity first, then worship systematically with mantra-limbs and arranged enclosures, showing devotion through precise, reverent practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-śāstra style procedure: using aṅga-mantras (ritual “limbs”) and attention to mantra phonetics/units beginning with svaras (vowels/tones), reflecting Śikṣā/phonetic awareness within ritual application.