Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 155

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

हृदंतोऽयं महामंत्रो द्विशतार्णः समीरितः । जैमिनिर्मुनिरस्योक्तश्छंदश्चामितमीरितम् ॥ १५५ ॥

Transliteration

hṛdaṃto'yaṃ mahāmaṃtro dviśatārṇaḥ samīritaḥ | jaiminirmunirasyoktaśchaṃdaścāmitamīritam || 155 ||

Translation

ഈ മഹാമന്ത്രം ‘ഹൃത്’ അക്ഷരത്തിൽ അവസാനിക്കുന്നതു (ഹൃദന്ത) എന്നു പറയപ്പെടുന്നു; ഇത് ഇരുനൂറ് അക്ഷരങ്ങളുള്ളതായും പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു. ഇതിന്റെ ഋഷി ജൈമിനി മുനി, ഛന്ദസ് അമിതം (അപരിമിതം) എന്നു കീര്ത്തിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• हृदन्तः: (the mantra called) Hṛdanta
• हृदन्तः: कर्ता (Kartā/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मन्त्रनाम

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

• महामन्त्रः: great mantra
• महामन्त्रः: कर्ता (Kartā/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—महान् मन्त्रः (great mantra)

• द्विशत-अर्णः: having two hundred syllables
• द्विशत-अर्णः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विशत (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—द्विशतं अर्णानि यस्य (having 200 syllables/letters)

• समीरितः: is recited/has been uttered
• समीरितः: क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + ईर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘uttered/recited’

• जैमिनिः: Jaimini
• जैमिनिः: कर्ता (Kartā/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जैमिनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मुनिः: sage
• मुनिः: अप्पोजिशन (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अस्य: of this (mantra)
• अस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उक्तः: is declared
• उक्तः: क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘said/declared’

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

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• अमितम्: immeasurable/limitless
• अमितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र छन्दः-विशेषणम् (as qualifier of chandas)

• ईरितम्: is stated
• ईरितम्: क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘stated’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Vedanga/Chandas-oriented context, traditionally within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Jaimini

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that a mantra is not only devotional sound but also a Vedic science: its ending, syllable-count, seer (ṛṣi), and metre (chandas) are part of its sanctity and correct transmission.

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

Bhakti here is supported by precision: devotion becomes steady and fruitful when the mantra is preserved and recited according to its recognized Vedic identifiers (ṛṣi and chandas), ensuring faithful continuity of the tradition.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Chandas and Śikṣā/Vyākaraṇa-style technical markers are highlighted—syllable/phoneme count (dviśatārṇa), mantra-ending (hṛd-anta), and the assignment of ṛṣi and chandas used for correct recitation and ritual application.