Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya

Devanagari script

पञ्चार्णो यदि रेफर्कबिंदुवर्जितविग्रहः । नेत्रहीनस्तु विज्ञेयः क्लेशेनापि न सिद्धिदः ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

pañcārṇo yadi repharkabiṃduvarjitavigrahaḥ | netrahīnastu vijñeyaḥ kleśenāpi na siddhidaḥ || 26 ||

Translation

यदि पंचाक्षरी मंत्र-रूप ‘रेफ’ (र), ‘अर्क’ (र) और बिंदु से रहित कर दिया जाए, तो वह ‘नेत्रहीन’ समझा जाए; वह क्लेश करने पर भी सिद्धि नहीं देता।

Word by Word

• पञ्च-अर्णः: five-syllabled
• पञ्च-अर्णः: विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular; dvigu ‘having five syllables/letters’

• यदि: if
• यदि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्त (conditional)

• रेफ-र्क-बिन्दु-वर्जित-विग्रहः: having a form lacking repha, rka, and bindu
• रेफ-र्क-बिन्दु-वर्जित-विग्रहः: विशेषण (Predicate/subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रेफ (प्रातिपदिक) + र्क (प्रातिपदिक; technical ‘r̥k/र्क’ element) + बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from √वर्ज्) + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular; bahuvrīhi ‘whose form (vigraha) is devoid of repha, rka, and bindu’

• नेत्र-हीनः: eyeless / defective
• नेत्र-हीनः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular; ‘lacking eyes’ (metaph. defective)

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• विज्ञेयः: should be known (as)
• विज्ञेयः: विधेय (Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्लेशेन: with hardship
• क्लेशेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्लेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• अपि: even / also
• अपि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (even/also)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• सिद्धि-दः: a giver of success (here: not a giver of success)
• सिद्धि-दः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक from √दा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular; ‘giver of success’ with negation

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-siddhi depends on exact phonetic integrity—omitting key sound-elements (repha/arka/bindu) makes the mantra spiritually ineffective, like an “eyeless” form that cannot “see” or deliver results.

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

It implies that sincere devotion should be paired with correct śāstric practice: careful, reverent recitation safeguards the intended meaning and potency of the mantra used in worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa sensitivity: the verse stresses correct inclusion of repha (r) and bindu/anusvāra in mantra recitation, warning that phonetic omissions undermine ritual efficacy.