Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

मनोर्यस्यादिमध्यांते वह्निबीजं तथोच्यते । चतुर्द्धा पञ्चधा वापि स मन्त्रश्छिन्नसंज्ञकः ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

manoryasyādimadhyāṃte vahnibījaṃ tathocyate | caturddhā pañcadhā vāpi sa mantraśchinnasaṃjñakaḥ || 21 ||

Translation

ഏത് മന്ത്രത്തിൽ വഹ്നിബീജം (അഗ്നിയുടെ ബീജാക്ഷരം) ആദിയിൽ, മദ്ധ്യേ, അന്ത്യത്തിൽ സ്ഥാപിക്കപ്പെടുകയും, അത് നാലോ അഞ്ചോ ഭാഗങ്ങളായി വിഭജിക്കപ്പെടുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നുവോ—ആ മന്ത്രം ‘ഛിന്ന’ എന്നു പേരിടപ്പെടുന്നു।

Word by Word

• manoḥ: of the mind
• manoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka (neuter), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (genitive/6th), Ekavacana; irregular stem manas → manaḥ

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsaka, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; relative pronoun ‘whose’

• ādi-madhya-ante: in the beginning, middle, and end
• ādi-madhya-ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (locative/7th), Ekavacana; dvandva used as a collective: ‘in the beginning, middle, and end’

• vahni-bījam: the ‘fire-seed’
• vahni-bījam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक) + bīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; ‘fire-seed’ (technical term)

• tathā: thus
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Prakāra-avyaya (adverb)

• ucyate: is called/said
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; ātmanepada; karmaṇi-prayoga (passive): ‘is said’

• caturdhā: in four ways
• caturdhā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: caturdhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Saṅkhyā-prakāra-avyaya (adverb: ‘fourfold’)

• pañcadhā: in five ways
• pañcadhā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pañcadhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Saṅkhyā-prakāra-avyaya (adverb: ‘fivefold’)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-nipāta (or)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle: ‘also/even’)

• saḥ: that (one)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• mantraḥ: mantra
• mantraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• chinna-saṃjñakaḥ: called ‘chinna’ (cut/broken)
• chinna-saṃjñakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: chinna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदik from √chid/छिद्) + saṃjñaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: ‘having the designation “chinna”/called chinna’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Agni (Vahni)

FAQs

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

It defines a precise mantra-type (“chinna”) by specifying where the Agni seed-syllable is inserted and how the mantra is segmented, emphasizing disciplined, rule-based mantra practice rather than improvisation.

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

While primarily technical, it supports bhakti by teaching correct mantra formation—since properly-formed mantras are treated as reliable vehicles for focused remembrance and worship in disciplined devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā-style phonetic/recitational discipline and mantra-vidyā procedure: the controlled placement of a bīja (seed syllable) and the formal division of a mantra into fixed segments for ritual application.