Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 62

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

रत्नाकल्पं विभुंध्यात्वा वर्णलक्षं जपेन्मनुम् । यद्वा स्मारादिमन्त्राणां जयाभं च हरिं स्मरेत् ॥ ६२ ॥

Transliteration

ratnākalpaṃ vibhuṃdhyātvā varṇalakṣaṃ japenmanum | yadvā smārādimantrāṇāṃ jayābhaṃ ca hariṃ smaret || 62 ||

Translation

രത്നാകൽപ രൂപത്തിലുള്ള സർവ്വവ്യാപിയായ വിഭുവിനെ ധ്യാനിച്ച് ലക്ഷ വർണ്ണം മന്ത്രജപം ചെയ്യണം; അല്ലെങ്കിൽ സ്മാരാദി മന്ത്രങ്ങളാൽ ജയശ്രീദാതാവായ ഹരിയെ സ്മരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• रत्न-आकल्पम्: (him) adorned with jewels / jewel-ornamented
• रत्न-आकल्पम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आकल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘आकल्प’ = ‘अलङ्कार/वेष’ (ornamentation/attire)

• विभुम्: the all-pervading Lord
• विभुम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated (upon)
• ध्यात्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); ‘having meditated’

• वर्ण-लक्षम्: a lakh (100,000) of syllables/recitations
• वर्ण-लक्षम्: कर्म (measure/object of japa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘वर्णलक्ष’ = ‘अक्षर-लक्ष’ (a lakh of syllables/recitations)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मनुम्: the mantra
• मनुम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्‍त्र/मनु (प्रातिपदिक; here ‘mantra’ sense)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यद्वा: or alternatively
• यद्वा: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (alternative: ‘or else’)

• स्मार-आदि-मन्त्राणाम्: of the Smāra etc. mantras
• स्मार-आदि-मन्त्राणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मार (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ = ‘etc.’; ‘of the Smāra and other mantras’

• जय-आभम्: victory-bestowing / victory-radiant
• जय-आभम्: विशेषण (to हरिम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘जयः आभः’ = ‘victory-radiant/bringing victory’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• हरिम्: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्मरेत्: should remember/meditate on
• स्मरेत्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga/ritual-mantra context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It presents a disciplined sadhana: meditation (dhyana) on the Lord, sustained mantra-japa to a prescribed measure (varṇa-lakṣa), and an alternative path of constant remembrance (smaraṇa) of Hari through recognized mantras.

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

Bhakti is expressed as smaraṇa—remembering Hari as the victorious, auspicious Lord—supported by mantra practice; the verse frames japa and remembrance as direct devotional engagement with Vishnu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-śāstra discipline: counting/measure in japa (varṇa-lakṣa) and the correct application of specific mantra sets (Smāra and related), reflecting technical ritual methodology typical of Vedanga-influenced practice.