Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

चतुर्दशार्णो मंत्रोऽयमस्येज्या पूर्ववन्मता । भूनेत्रसमनेत्राक्षिवर्णेरस्यांगपंचकम् ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

caturdaśārṇo maṃtro'yamasyejyā pūrvavanmatā | bhūnetrasamanetrākṣivarṇerasyāṃgapaṃcakam || 47 ||

Translation

ഇത് ചതുര്ദശാക്ഷര മന്ത്രമാണ്; ഇതിന്റെ പൂജാവിധി മുൻപുപറഞ്ഞതുപോലെ തന്നെയെന്ന് കരുതുന്നു. ഇതിന്റെ അംഗപഞ്ചകം ‘ഭൂ’, ‘നേത്ര’, ‘സമ’, ‘നേത്ര’, ‘അക്ഷി’ എന്ന വർണങ്ങളാൽ വിന്യസിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• caturdaśa-arṇaḥ: fourteen-syllabled
• caturdaśa-arṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturdaśa (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; द्विगु-समासः ‘चतुर्दश अक्षराणि यस्य’ (fourteen-syllabled)

• maṃtraḥ: mantra
• maṃtraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṃtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• asya: of this
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• ijyā: worship (procedure)
• ijyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ijyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘worship/ritual’

• pūrvavat: as before
• pūrvavat: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrvavat (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (उपमानवाचक-अव्यय) ‘as before’

• matā: is considered
• matā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त/PPP), Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agreeing with ijyā; ‘is considered’

• bhū-netra-sama-netra-akṣi-varṇeḥ: of (one) whose syllable-count is denoted by bhū-netra-sama-netra-akṣi
• bhū-netra-sama-netra-akṣi-varṇeḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक) + netra (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक) + netra (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः describing arṇa/varṇa-count via bhū=1, netra=2, sama=?? (often 0/ equal), netra=2, akṣi=2; overall ‘of (a mantra) whose syllables are denoted by bhū-netra-sama-netra-akṣi’

• asya: of this
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• aṅga-pañcakam: the fivefold (aṅga) set
• aṅga-pañcakam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + pañca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; द्विगु-समासः ‘पञ्च अङ्गानि’ (fivefold ancillary set)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue instructing Narada on technical mantra-vidhi)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It formalizes a precise mantra-practice: the mantra’s power is approached through correct syllable-count, continuity with earlier ritual rules, and the disciplined application of five ancillary limbs (aṅga-pañcaka).

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent precision—devotion is not only emotion but also faithful adherence to the prescribed worship-method for the mantra, as taught by the tradition.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-technical practice is emphasized: counting syllables (chandas-style attention), handling varṇas (phonetic/śikṣā sensitivity), and applying aṅga/nyāsa-like limb assignments for ritual correctness.