Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

बालायांते तु रामाय विष्णवे हृदयांतिमः । सप्तचत्वारिंशदर्णो मालामन्त्रोऽयमीरितः ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

bālāyāṃte tu rāmāya viṣṇave hṛdayāṃtimaḥ | saptacatvāriṃśadarṇo mālāmantro'yamīritaḥ || 52 ||

Translation

അവസാനത്തിൽ “ബാലാ” ബീജം സ്ഥാപിച്ച്, “രാമായ വിഷ്ണവേ” എന്ന ഹൃദയാന്തിമ വാക്യത്തോടെ സമാപിപ്പിക്കുന്നതു—ഇത് നാൽപ്പത്തേഴു അക്ഷരങ്ങളുള്ള മാലാ-മന്ത്രമെന്നു പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• bālāyām: in/with ‘bālā’
• bālāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• ante: at the end
• ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• rāmāya: to/for Rāma
• rāmāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• viṣṇave: to/for Viṣṇu
• viṣṇave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• hṛdaya-antimaḥ: ending with ‘hṛdaya’ / the final (part) ‘hṛdaya’
• hṛdaya-antimaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक) + antima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: hṛdaya-antima (हृदयान्तिम = हृदयस्य अन्तिमः)

• sapta-catvāriṃśat-arṇaḥ: having forty-seven syllables
• sapta-catvāriṃśat-arṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक) + catvāriṃśat (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—द्विगुः (numerical): sapta-catvāriṃśat (47) + arṇa (अर्ण = अक्षर)

• mālā-mantraḥ: the garland-mantra (mālā-mantra)
• mālā-mantraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mālā (प्रातिपदिक) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: mālā-mantra (मालामन्त्र)

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• īritaḥ: is declared/has been taught
• īritaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: īr (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense): ‘has been stated/uttered’

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a technical Vedanga-style mantra discussion, traditionally in dialogue context with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Rama (Lakshmi)

FAQs

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

It defines a specific Viṣṇu-centered mālā-mantra by its structure (end-syllable, concluding hṛdaya-formula) and by its exact syllable-count, emphasizing disciplined japa as a precise sādhana.

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

By prescribing a rosary-mantra addressed to Viṣṇu and linked with Rāmā (Lakṣmī), it frames bhakti as steady remembrance (japa) done with correct mantra-form and devotional intent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-śāstra precision: the verse highlights arṇa-saṅkhyā (syllable counting) and mantra-aṅga usage (hṛdaya-ending), reflecting a technical, rule-based approach aligned with Vedāṅga-style methodology.