Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 103

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

सोऽहं वह्निप्रियांतोऽयं मंत्रो वस्वक्षरः परः । पंचब्रह्मात्मकस्यास्य मंत्रस्य मुनि सत्तमः ॥ १०३ ॥

Transliteration

so'haṃ vahnipriyāṃto'yaṃ maṃtro vasvakṣaraḥ paraḥ | paṃcabrahmātmakasyāsya maṃtrasya muni sattamaḥ || 103 ||

Translation

‘സോ’ഹം’ കൊണ്ട് ആരംഭിച്ച് ‘വഹ്നിപ്രിയാ’യിൽ അവസാനിക്കുന്ന ഈ പരമമന്ത്രം അഷ്ടാക്ഷരമാണ്. പഞ്ചബ്രഹ്മാത്മകമായ ഈ മന്ത്രത്തിന്റെ ഋഷി മുനിശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ.

Word by Word

• सः: he/that
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Common gender (त्रिलिङ्ग-प्रयोग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); 1st person pronoun

• वह्नि-प्रिय-अन्तः: the ending ‘vahnipriyā’ (mantra-ending)
• वह्नि-प्रिय-अन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वह्निप्रियस्य अन्तः / ‘end of the Vahnipriyā-mantra’ sense)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• मन्त्रः: mantra
• मन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• वस्व्-अक्षरः: having Vasu(-count) syllables; eight-syllabled
• वस्व्-अक्षरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वस्व् (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वस्वः अक्षरः / ‘Vasu-syllabled’ i.e., having eight syllables)

• परः: supreme
• परः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• पञ्च-ब्रह्म-आत्मकस्य: of (that) which is of the nature of the five Brahmas
• पञ्च-ब्रह्म-आत्मकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पञ्चब्रह्मणः आत्मकः)

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• मन्त्रस्य: of the mantra
• मन्त्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• मुनिः: sage (ṛṣi of the mantra)
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• सत्तमः: best, excellent
• सत्तमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; superlative)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); superlative (तमप्)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga/Mantra-śāstra context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Pañcabrahma
• Mantra

FAQs

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

It defines a mantra by its exact markers (beginning “so’ham,” ending “vahnipriyā”) and declares it “supreme,” linking it to pañcabrahma—indicating that correct mantra-form and its metaphysical ground are both essential for effective upāsanā and liberation-oriented practice.

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

By presenting a precisely characterized mantra meant for contemplation and repetition, the verse supports bhakti/upāsanā through disciplined japa: devotion becomes steady when the mantra is known in its authentic form and contemplated as embodying the highest reality (para, pañcabrahma).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-śāstra procedure: identifying a mantra’s syllable-count (aṣṭākṣara), its defining boundaries (ādi/anta—beginning/ending words), and its ṛṣi (seer), which are standard technical steps used in ritual application and correct recitation.