Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Gaṇeśa Mantra-vidhi: Mahāgaṇapati Gāyatrī, Vakratuṇḍa Mantra, Nyāsa, Homa, Āvaraṇa-pūjā, and Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

वह्निः प्रियांतो मंत्रोऽयष्टाविंशतिवर्णवान् । गणकोऽस्य मुनिश्छंदो गायत्री वियुदादिका ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

vahniḥ priyāṃto maṃtro'yaṣṭāviṃśativarṇavān | gaṇako'sya muniśchaṃdo gāyatrī viyudādikā || 4 ||

Translation

ഈ മന്ത്രം ‘വഹ്നി’ എന്ന പദത്തിൽ ആരംഭിച്ച് ‘പ്രിയാ’യിൽ അവസാനിക്കുന്നു; ഇത് ഇരുപത്തിയെട്ട് വർണ്ണങ്ങളുള്ളത്. ഇതിന്റെ ഋഷി ഗണകൻ, ഛന്ദസ് ഗായത്രി, ദേവത വിയുത്-ആദിക (വിദ്യുത്-തത്ത്വം) ആകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• वह्निः: fire; Vahni
• वह्निः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रिय-अन्तः: (having) ‘priya’ as ending
• प्रिय-अन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘प्रियस्य अन्तः’ / ‘ending with priya’ (mantra-structure term)

• मन्त्रः: the mantra
• मन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Determiner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अष्टाविंशति-वर्णवान्: having twenty-eight syllables/letters
• अष्टाविंशति-वर्णवान्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टाविंशति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वर्णवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numerical) qualifying वर्णवान्: ‘having 28 syllables/letters’

• गणकः: the reckoner/counter
• गणकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मुनिः: sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• छन्दः: meter
• छन्दः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गायत्री: Gayatri (meter)
• गायत्री: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वियुत्-आदिका: beginning with ‘viyut’
• वियुत्-आदिका: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वियुत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘वियुत्-आदि’ = beginning with ‘viyut’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the technical mantra-index details)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Agni (Vahni)
• Gaṇaka (ṛṣi)
• Gāyatrī (chandas)
• Viyut (lightning principle/deity)

FAQs

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

It preserves the mantra-science method: a mantra is authenticated and applied by knowing its opening/ending words, syllable count, ṛṣi, chandas, and devatā—ensuring correct ritual and contemplative use.

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

Indirectly: Bhakti practices in the Purana often rely on properly transmitted mantras; this verse supports devotion by safeguarding accurate mantra-recitation and deity-orientation (devatā-nirdeśa).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Chandas (metre) and mantra-lakṣaṇa: identifying Gāyatrī metre, counting syllables (28 here), and assigning ṛṣi/devatā—core technical steps for Vedic recitation and ritual correctness.