Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

Pañca-prakṛti-nirūpaṇa and Mantra-vidhi: Rādhā, Mahālakṣmī, Durgā, Sarasvatī, Sāvitrī; plus Sāvitrī-Pañjara

Devanagari script

ज्ञानिनां प्रवरः श्रीमान् पुमानोंकारमुच्चरन् । कमंडलुधरो जातस्तपस्वी नाभितो हरेः ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

jñānināṃ pravaraḥ śrīmān pumānoṃkāramuccaran | kamaṃḍaludharo jātastapasvī nābhito hareḥ || 21 ||

Translation

Cette Personne illustre, la plus éminente parmi les sages, en prononçant la syllabe « Oṃ », devint un tapasvin portant le kamaṇḍalu, né du nombril de Hari (Viṣṇu).

Word by Word

• ज्ञानिनाम्: of the wise
• ज्ञानिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• प्रवरः: the foremost
• प्रवरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• श्रीमान्: splendid/fortunate
• श्रीमान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive)

• पुमान्: a man/person
• पुमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ओंकारम्: the syllable Oṃ
• ओंकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओंकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उच्चरन्: pronouncing/uttering
• उच्चरन्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उच्चर (कृदन्त; √चर् (धातु) उपसर्ग-उद्)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘उच्चरन्’ = उच्चरन् (pronouncing)

• कमण्डलु-धरः: bearing a water-pot
• कमण्डलु-धरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कमण्डलु (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त; √धृ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कृदन्त ‘धर’ (ण्वुल्/अच्-प्रत्ययान्त agent noun) ‘धारयति’ अर्थे; समासः—कमण्डलुं धरति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• जातः: was born/appeared
• जातः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जात (कृदन्त; √जन् (धातु))
• Form: भूतकाले क्त (past participle) पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; वाक्ये ‘अभवत्/समभवत्’ अर्थे (predicative)

• तपस्वी: an ascetic
• तपस्वी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• नाभितः: from/near the navel (region)
• नाभितः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाभितः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश-देशवाचक (adverb/postposition) ‘नाभेः समीपे/नाभेः’

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Hari
• Om (Omkara)

FAQs

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

It links the highest wisdom with Oṃ (praṇava) and portrays an archetypal ascetic arising from Hari’s navel—teaching that disciplined tapas and mantra-centered awareness originate in, and are sustained by, Viṣṇu as the supreme foundation.

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

By naming Hari as the source and placing Oṃ on the lips of the foremost knower, the verse frames devotion as reverent alignment with Viṣṇu through sacred utterance and a life of restraint—bhakti expressed as mantra and tapas.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights mantra-prayoga centered on praṇava (Oṃ) and disciplined recitation (uccāraṇa), a key practical element connected with Śikṣā (proper phonetic utterance) and the broader Vedic culture of ascetic observance.