Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

एकादशाक्षरी चेयं विद्यार्णैरंगकल्पनम् । आद्येन मन्त्रवर्णेन हृदयं समुदीरितम् ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

ekādaśākṣarī ceyaṃ vidyārṇairaṃgakalpanam | ādyena mantravarṇena hṛdayaṃ samudīritam || 81 ||

Translation

Voici la formule sacrée de onze syllabes ; son assignation aux membres (nyāsa) doit être ordonnée par les sages, océans de connaissance. Par la première lettre du mantra, on prononce et l’on établit le « cœur » (hṛdaya-nyāsa).

Word by Word

• ekādaśa-akṣarī: the eleven-syllabled (vidyā/mantra)
• ekādaśa-akṣarī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekādaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + akṣarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• iyam: this
• iyam: Karta (कर्ता) — apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• vidyā-ṛṇaiḥ: with the ‘debts’/obligatory parts of the vidyā (technical term)
• vidyā-ṛṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (vidyāyāḥ ṛṇāni/ṛṇaiḥ); नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• aṅga-kalpanam: arrangement of the limbs (ancillaries)
• aṅga-kalpanam: Pratijñā/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + kalpana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (aṅgānāṃ kalpanam); नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• ādyena: by the first
• ādyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-एकवचन (Instrumental singular) — ‘by the first’

• mantra-varṇena: with the mantra-letter
• mantra-varṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (mantrasya varṇaḥ); पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• hṛdayam: the heart (hṛdaya-nyāsa part)
• hṛdayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• samudīritam: has been declared/uttered
• samudīritam: Kriyā (क्रिया) — passive predicate
• Type: Verb
• Root: samudīrita (प्रातिपदिक; √ud-īr धातु-कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचन — ‘has been uttered/declared’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra practice is not only recitation but also an inner installation (nyāsa): the mantra’s first syllable is placed in the heart, making devotion and awareness steady at the spiritual center.

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

By directing the sādhaka to establish the mantra in the heart, it frames bhakti as heartfelt remembrance and internalization of the deity/mantra rather than mere external ritual.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual-technical procedure: aṅga-nyāsa and hṛdaya-nyāsa based on mantra-varṇa (syllabic/phonetic units), reflecting applied śikṣā (phonetics) and kalpa-style ritual method.