Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

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

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । अथ जीवस्य पाशौघच्छेदनायेष्टसिद्धिदम् । दीक्षाविधिं प्रवक्ष्यामि मन्त्रसामर्थ्यदायकम् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | atha jīvasya pāśaughacchedanāyeṣṭasiddhidam | dīkṣāvidhiṃ pravakṣyāmi mantrasāmarthyadāyakam || 1 ||

Translation

സനത്കുമാരൻ പറഞ്ഞു: ഇനി ജീവനെ ബന്ധിക്കുന്ന പാശങ്ങളുടെ കൂട്ടം മുറിച്ചെറിയാനും ഇഷ്ടസിദ്ധി നൽകാനും, മന്ത്രങ്ങൾക്ക് സാമർത്ഥ്യം പകരുന്ന ദീക്ഷാവിധി ഞാൻ പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• अथ: now; then
• अथ: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवतारक/अनन्तर (discourse marker: now/then)

• जीवस्य: of the living being (jīva)
• जीवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• पाश-ओघ-च्छेदनाय: for the cutting of the multitude of bonds
• पाश-ओघ-च्छेदनाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक) + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक) + छेदन (कृदन्त/भाव; √छिद् धातु, ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular); प्रयोजन-द्योतक (purpose)

• इष्ट-सिद्धि-दम्: granting the desired attainments
• इष्ट-सिद्धि-दम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (कृदन्त; √इष्/√यज् sense ‘desired’; क्त) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त; √दा धातु, क)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of ‘विधिम्’ (understood/next pāda)

• दीक्षा-विधिम्: the procedure/rite of initiation
• दीक्षा-विधिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• मन्त्र-सामर्थ्य-दायकम्: bestowing the power/efficacy of mantras
• मन्त्र-सामर्थ्य-दायकम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सामर्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक) + दायक (प्रातिपदिक; √दा धातु, ण्वुल्/agentive)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of ‘विधिम्’

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Jiva
• Mantra
• Diksha

FAQs

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

It frames dīkṣā (initiation) as a transformative rite that severs the jīva’s binding “pāśas” (bondage) and becomes a direct cause for both spiritual release and attainment of worthy aims.

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

By emphasizing mantra-sāmarthya (mantra efficacy) gained through dīkṣā, it points to disciplined, authorized devotional practice—where mantra-japa and worship become spiritually effective through proper transmission.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (vidhi) and mantra-application are foregrounded—practical, technical instruction aligned with Vedic ritual sciences, focusing on correct initiation as the basis for mantra-siddhi.