Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 69

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

रविलक्षं जपेन्मंत्रं दुग्धैर्हुत्वा दशांशतः । यजेच्च पूर्ववद्गोष्ठस्थितं वा प्रतिमादिषु ॥ ६९ ॥

Transliteration

ravilakṣaṃ japenmaṃtraṃ dugdhairhutvā daśāṃśataḥ | yajecca pūrvavadgoṣṭhasthitaṃ vā pratimādiṣu || 69 ||

Translation

Hendaknya ia mengulang mantra seratus ribu kali; lalu melakukan homa dengan persembahan susu sebanyak sepersepuluh dari jumlah itu. Sesudahnya, lakukan pemujaan seperti yang telah dijelaskan—kepada dewa yang ditegakkan di kandang sapi (goṣṭha) atau kepada arca dan bentuk-bentuk yang telah dikonsekrasi.

Word by Word

• रवि-लक्षम्: one lakh (times)
• रवि-लक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रवेः लक्षम्) = सूर्यसंख्या-लक्षम् (one lakh)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमपुरुष? (आदेशरूपेण सामान्यतः मध्यमपुरुषेऽपि प्रयुज्यते) एकवचन; ‘let (one) recite’

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• दुग्धैः: with milk
• दुग्धैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• हुत्वा: having offered
• हुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having offered (in fire)’

• दश-अंशतः: as a tenth (portion)
• दश-अंशतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्यय ‘-तः’), अर्थे ‘by a tenth/ten-percent portion’

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदी; एकवचन; ‘should worship/perform sacrifice’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• गोष्ठ-स्थितम्: situated in the cowshed
• गोष्ठ-स्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (स्था धातु, क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः: गोष्ठे स्थितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies the worship-object

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक अव्यय (or)

• प्रतिमा-आदिषु: in images and the like
• प्रतिमा-आदिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुवचन, सप्तमी (अधिकरण); ‘आदि’समास/समाहार: प्रतिमादि = images etc.; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-प्रयोगे सप्तमी बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in dialogue with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It links inner discipline (japa) with outward sacrificial purification (homa) and concludes with formal worship, showing a complete sādhana sequence where mantra-power is sealed through fire-offering and devotion.

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

After the technical practice of japa and homa, it directs the practitioner to worship the deity in a sanctified locus (goṣṭha) or through an image (pratimā), emphasizing devotion expressed through reverent, rule-based pūjā.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual proportionality (daśāṃśa—one-tenth homa after japa) and procedural continuity (“pūrvavat”), a hallmark of applied karmakāṇḍa practice aligned with śrauta/smārta ritual logic.