Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 89

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

प्रणवस्योपनिषदां द्वादशार्णस्य च द्विज । अष्टाक्षरस्य मंत्रस्य महावाक्यचयस्य च ॥ ८९ ॥

Transliteration

praṇavasyopaniṣadāṃ dvādaśārṇasya ca dvija | aṣṭākṣarasya maṃtrasya mahāvākyacayasya ca || 89 ||

Translation

ಓ ದ್ವಿಜ! ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಣವ (ಓಂ) ಸಂಬಂಧಿತ ಉಪನಿಷತ್ತತ್ತ್ವ, ದ್ವಾದಶಾಕ್ಷರ ಮಂತ್ರ, ಅಷ್ಟಾಕ್ಷರ ಮಂತ್ರ ಹಾಗೂ ವೇದ ಮಹಾವಾಕ್ಯಗಳ ಸಮೂಹದ ಉಪದೇಶವಿದೆ।

Word by Word

• praṇavasya: of the Praṇava (Oṃ)
• praṇavasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी/Genitival relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• upaniṣadām: of the Upaniṣads
• upaniṣadām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी/Genitival relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upaniṣad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• dvādaśa-arṇasya: of the twelve-syllabled (one)
• dvādaśa-arṇasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी/Genitival relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa + arṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; समासः—द्विगु (dvādaśa arṇāni yasya)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• dvija: O twice-born
• dvija: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• aṣṭa-akṣarasya: of the eight-syllabled (one)
• aṣṭa-akṣarasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी/Genitival relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; समासः—द्विगु (aṣṭa akṣarāṇi yasya)

• mantrasya: of the mantra
• mantrasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी/Genitival relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• mahā-vākya-cayasya: of the collection of great sayings (mahāvākyas)
• mahā-vākya-cayasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी/Genitival relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + vākya + caya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुष (mahā-vākyānāṃ cayaḥ)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada / a twice-born listener)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Praṇava (Oṁ)
• Upaniṣads
• Mahāvākya

FAQs

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

It points to a core Vedāntic-bhakti curriculum: Oṁ (Praṇava), principal Vaiṣṇava mantras (eight- and twelve-syllabled), and the mahāvākyas—showing that realization and devotion are grounded in authoritative Vedic utterances.

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

By highlighting the aṣṭākṣarī and dvādaśākṣarī mantras—classically used for Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa worship—it indicates bhakti as mantra-centered sādhana supported by Upaniṣadic meaning, not mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga depends on correct phonetics and recitation—linking directly to Śikṣā (pronunciation) and Vyākaraṇa (sound/word-forms) for preserving syllable-count (akṣara) and accurate chanting of Praṇava and the mantras.