Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

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

Devanagari script

एकादशाक्षरो वापि पंचविंशतिवर्णकः । त्रयोर्विंशतिवर्णो वा स मनुर्दृप्तसंज्ञकः ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

ekādaśākṣaro vāpi paṃcaviṃśativarṇakaḥ | trayorviṃśativarṇo vā sa manurdṛptasaṃjñakaḥ || 49 ||

Translation

മന്ത്രം പതിനൊന്ന് അക്ഷരമുള്ളതായാലും, ഇരുപത്തഞ്ച് വർണ്ണമുള്ളതായാലും, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഇരുപത്തിമൂന്ന് വർണ്ണമുള്ളതായാലും—അത്തരം മന്ത്രം ‘ദൃപ്ത’ എന്ന നാമത്തിൽ സ്മൃതമാണ്.

Word by Word

• ekādaśākṣaraḥ: having eleven syllables
• ekādaśākṣaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekādaśa (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; dvigu-samāsa

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya (or)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Sambhāvanā/samuccaya-nipāta (particle: ‘also/even’)

• paṃcaviṃśativarṇakaḥ: having twenty-five letters
• paṃcaviṃśativarṇakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paṃcaviṃśati (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; dvigu-samāsa

• trayoḥviṃśativarṇaḥ: having twenty-three letters
• trayoḥviṃśativarṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trayo-viṃśati (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; dvigu-samāsa (23)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya (or)

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

• manuḥ: mantra (manu)
• manuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• dṛptasaṃjñakaḥ: called ‘Dṛpta’
• dṛptasaṃjñakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛpta (√dṛp कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: dṛptā saṃjñā yasya/ dṛpta-iti saṃjñakaḥ = ‘named “Dṛpta”’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It shows that mantra-vidyā in the Narada Purana includes precise technical standards—counting akṣaras/varṇas—so that chanting and ritual application follow an exact Vedic method rather than guesswork.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports devotional practice by stressing correct mantra-form; accurate recitation (as taught in Śikṣā/Vedāṅga) is presented as the proper foundation for effective japa and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā-oriented mantra metrics: the verse classifies a mantra by syllable/phoneme count (11, 25, or 23) and assigns it the technical label “Dṛpta,” reflecting applied phonetics and formal mantra taxonomy.