Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

Mantraśodhana, Dīkṣā-krama, Guru-Pādukā, Ajapā-Haṃsa, and Ṣaṭcakra-Kuṇḍalinī Sādhana

Devanagari script

नामार्णान्यचतुष्कात्तु द्वितीये मंत्रवर्णके । चतुष्के चेत्तदा पूर्वं यत्र नामाक्षरं स्थितम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

nāmārṇānyacatuṣkāttu dvitīye maṃtravarṇake | catuṣke cettadā pūrvaṃ yatra nāmākṣaraṃ sthitam || 8 ||

Translation

നാമാർണങ്ങൾ ചതുഷ്കമായി വരാത്തപക്ഷം, മന്ത്രവർണ്ണങ്ങളുടെ രണ്ടാം ചതുഷ്കത്തിൽ—ചതുഷ്കം പ്രയോഗിക്കേണ്ടതുണ്ടെങ്കിൽ—നാമാക്ഷരം നിലകൊള്ളുന്ന സ്ഥാനത്ത് തന്നെ ആദ്യം സ്ഥാപിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• नामार्णानि: name-letters
• नामार्णानि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाम + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘नाम्नः अर्णानि’ (letters of the name)

• चतुष्कात्: from the quartet (set of four)
• चतुष्कात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; ablative ‘from the group of four’

• तु: however/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषार्थक/विरोधार्थक

• द्वितीये: in the second
• द्वितीये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• मन्त्रवर्णके: in the mantra-letter (slot)
• मन्त्रवर्णके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + वर्णक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘मन्त्रस्य वर्णकः’ (mantra-letter position)

• चतुष्के: in the quartet
• चतुष्के: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: सम्बन्ध (Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक अव्यय (conditional particle ‘if’)

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• पूर्वम्: first
• पूर्वम्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal/Order)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक अव्यय (adverb ‘first/previously’)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: अधिकरण (Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक सम्बन्धबोधक अव्यय (relative adverb ‘where’)

• नामाक्षरम्: the name-letter
• नामाक्षरम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाम + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘नाम्नः अक्षरम्’

• स्थितम्: is placed
• स्थितम्: विधेय (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, active/intransitive sense), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘being placed/situated’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue instruction to Narada on technical mantra arrangement)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It stresses disciplined, rule-based mantra formation: correct placement of the nāmākṣara (name-syllable) is treated as essential for the mantra’s intended ritual and spiritual effect.

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

Bhakti here is supported by precision in practice: devotion is expressed not only by feeling but by careful adherence to mantra-śāstra rules so the worship is properly aligned and effective.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics/letter arrangement) and Vyākaraṇa-style technical ordering are implied—specifically, how to handle letter-grouping (catuṣka) and where to position the name-syllable within a mantra’s letter sequence.