Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

समस्तपापराशीनां तरसा नाशहेतवः । अष्टाक्षरं महामन्त्रं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

samastapāparāśīnāṃ tarasā nāśahetavaḥ | aṣṭākṣaraṃ mahāmantraṃ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam || 36 ||

Translation

មហាមន្ត្រាអក្សរ៨ គឺជាមូលហេតុរហ័សសម្រាប់បំផ្លាញបាបទាំងមូលជាច្រើន; វាជាអ្នកបំផ្លាញបាបទាំងអស់។

Word by Word

• samasta-pāpa-rāśīnām: of the entire heaps of sins
• samasta-pāpa-rāśīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samasta (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + rāśi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• tarasā: swiftly, with force
• tarasā: Karana (करण/Means; adverbial)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; adverbial-instrumental usage

• nāśa-hetavaḥ: causes of destruction
• nāśa-hetavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• aṣṭa-akṣaram: eight-syllabled
• aṣṭa-akṣaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu compound (numeral); Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; qualifies mahāmantram

• mahā-mantram: the great mantra
• mahā-mantram: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya compound; Masculine, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular

• sarva-pāpa-praṇāśanam: destroyer of all sins
• sarva-pāpa-praṇāśanam: Pratijñā/Predicate (विधेय/epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + praṇāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; predicate/epithet of mantra

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It declares the aṣṭākṣara (eight-syllabled) mahāmantra as a direct, swift means of inner purification, capable of destroying accumulated pāpa and supporting progress toward liberation through devotion.

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

By elevating a Vishnu-centered mantra as the chief purifier, the verse emphasizes bhakti-sādhana—steady remembrance and japa—as a practical path where divine name/mantra uproots sin and strengthens surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga (practical application of sacred formulae) is implied—disciplined japa with correct syllabic form (aṣṭākṣara), aligning with śikṣā (phonetics) and vyākaraṇa (accurate form) to preserve mantra integrity.