Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

तारवर्मत्रया लक्ष्मीरेवं हीनस्तु यो मनुः । शक्तिहीनः स विज्ञेयश्चिरकालफलप्रदः ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

tāravarmatrayā lakṣmīrevaṃ hīnastu yo manuḥ | śaktihīnaḥ sa vijñeyaścirakālaphalapradaḥ || 23 ||

Translation

ത്രിവിധ ‘താര-വർമ’ എന്ന സംരക്ഷണാവരണം ഇല്ലാത്ത മനു (മന്ത്രം) ശക്തിഹീനമെന്ന് അറിയണം; അതിൽ ലക്ഷ്മീപ്രാപ്തി ഉണ്ടാകില്ല, ഫലവും ദീർഘകാലത്തിന് ശേഷം മാത്രം ലഭിക്കും।

Word by Word

• तार-वर्म-त्रया: by the triad ‘tārā–varma’ (threefold set)
• तार-वर्म-त्रया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; Instrumental singular; ‘by the triad (traya) of tārā and varma’ (compound as a technical set)

• लक्ष्मीः: Lakṣmī / auspiciousness
• लक्ष्मीः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• हीनः: devoid / lacking
• हीनः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular; predicate adjective

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/particle

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Subject of relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Relative pronoun, nominative singular

• मनुः: Manu (the mantra)
• मनुः: कर्ता (Apposition to यः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• शक्ति-हीनः: powerless / lacking śakti
• शक्ति-हीनः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular; ‘lacking power’

• सः: he/that
• सः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Demonstrative pronoun

• विज्ञेयः: should be known (as)
• विज्ञेयः: विधेय (Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be recognized/known’

• चिर-काल-फल-प्रदः: giving results only after a long time
• चिर-काल-फल-प्रदः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिर (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक from √दा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular; ‘giver of fruit after a long time’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-phala depends on correct mantric structure and protection; a deficient mantra is considered śakti-hīna and yields results only slowly, emphasizing precision and discipline in sādhanā.

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

It implies that devotion must be accompanied by proper vidhi (method): sincere bhakti aligned with correct mantra-prayoga brings auspicious grace (symbolized by Lakṣmī) more effectively than careless or incomplete practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical principle of mantra-śāstra used within Vedāṅga-style disciplines: mantras require correct components (often taught as coverings/kavaca/nyāsa-like protections); otherwise their śakti is weakened and the promised phala is delayed.