Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 103

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

सोऽहं वह्निप्रियांतोऽयं मंत्रो वस्वक्षरः परः । पंचब्रह्मात्मकस्यास्य मंत्रस्य मुनि सत्तमः ॥ १०३ ॥

Transliteration

so'haṃ vahnipriyāṃto'yaṃ maṃtro vasvakṣaraḥ paraḥ | paṃcabrahmātmakasyāsya maṃtrasya muni sattamaḥ || 103 ||

Translation

Ce mantra suprême, commençant par « so’ham » et s’achevant par « vahnipriyā », est composé de huit syllabes. Pour ce mantra, de la nature du Pañcabrahma (le Brahman en cinq aspects), le sage éminent est le ṛṣi, le voyant.

Word by Word

• सः: he/that
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Common gender (त्रिलिङ्ग-प्रयोग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); 1st person pronoun

• वह्नि-प्रिय-अन्तः: the ending ‘vahnipriyā’ (mantra-ending)
• वह्नि-प्रिय-अन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वह्निप्रियस्य अन्तः / ‘end of the Vahnipriyā-mantra’ sense)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

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

• वस्व्-अक्षरः: having Vasu(-count) syllables; eight-syllabled
• वस्व्-अक्षरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वस्व् (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वस्वः अक्षरः / ‘Vasu-syllabled’ i.e., having eight syllables)

• परः: supreme
• परः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• पञ्च-ब्रह्म-आत्मकस्य: of (that) which is of the nature of the five Brahmas
• पञ्च-ब्रह्म-आत्मकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पञ्चब्रह्मणः आत्मकः)

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• मन्त्रस्य: of the mantra
• मन्त्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• मुनिः: sage (ṛṣi of the mantra)
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• सत्तमः: best, excellent
• सत्तमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; superlative)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); superlative (तमप्)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga/Mantra-śāstra context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Pañcabrahma
• Mantra

FAQs

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

It defines a mantra by its exact markers (beginning “so’ham,” ending “vahnipriyā”) and declares it “supreme,” linking it to pañcabrahma—indicating that correct mantra-form and its metaphysical ground are both essential for effective upāsanā and liberation-oriented practice.

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

By presenting a precisely characterized mantra meant for contemplation and repetition, the verse supports bhakti/upāsanā through disciplined japa: devotion becomes steady when the mantra is known in its authentic form and contemplated as embodying the highest reality (para, pañcabrahma).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-śāstra procedure: identifying a mantra’s syllable-count (aṣṭākṣara), its defining boundaries (ādi/anta—beginning/ending words), and its ṛṣi (seer), which are standard technical steps used in ritual application and correct recitation.