Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

Yakṣiṇī-Mantra-Sādhana Nirūpaṇa

Lakṣmī-avatāra-vidyāḥ: Bālā, Annapūrṇā, Bagalā

Devanagari script

वाणीमन्मथशक्त्याख्यं बीजत्रितयमीरितम् । ऋषिः स्याद्दक्षिणामूर्तिः पंक्तिश्छंदः प्रकीर्तितम् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

vāṇīmanmathaśaktyākhyaṃ bījatritayamīritam | ṛṣiḥ syāddakṣiṇāmūrtiḥ paṃktiśchaṃdaḥ prakīrtitam || 2 ||

Translation

വാണി, മന്മഥ, ശക്തി എന്ന പേരിലുള്ള ബീജമന്ത്രങ്ങളുടെ ത്രയം പ്രസ്താവിക്കപ്പെട്ടു. ഇതിന്റെ ഋഷി ദക്ഷിണാമൂർത്തി; ഛന്ദസ് ‘പങ്ക്തി’ എന്നു കീർത്തിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• vāṇī-manmatha-śakti-ākhyam: named ‘Vāṇī–Manmatha–Śakti’
• vāṇī-manmatha-śakti-ākhyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāṇī (प्रातिपदिक) + manmatha (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyā (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √khyā धातु with ā-)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘called Vāṇī, Manmatha, and Śakti’ qualifying bījatritayam

• bīja-tritayam: the triad of bījas
• bīja-tritayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bīja (प्रातिपदिक) + tritaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘a triad of seed-syllables’

• īritam: has been declared
• īritam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: īrita (कृदन्त; √īr धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicative ‘has been stated’

• ṛṣiḥ: the seer (ṛṣi)
• ṛṣiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• syāt: should be/is to be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• dakṣiṇā-mūrtiḥ: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
• dakṣiṇā-mūrtiḥ: Pratipādya (प्रातिपाद्य/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name ‘Dakṣiṇāmūrti’

• paṃktiḥ: Paṅkti
• paṃktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṃkti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• chandaḥ: meter
• chandaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chandas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘meter’

• prakīrtitam: is proclaimed
• prakīrtitam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prakīrtita (कृदन्त; √kīrt धातु with pra-)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicative ‘is proclaimed’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/vidyā context within Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Dakshinamurti
• Vani (Sarasvati)
• Manmatha
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It codifies the mantra’s formal identifiers—bīja-triad, ṛṣi, and chandas—showing that sacred practice is grounded in precise revelation-lineage (ṛṣi) and disciplined recitation structure (meter).

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

By emphasizing correct mantra-framework (bīja, ṛṣi, chandas), it supports bhakti as a regulated sādhana—devotion expressed through accurate japa and reverent alignment with the guru-principle (Dakṣiṇāmūrti).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Chandas (Vedic prosody) is explicitly highlighted through the Paṅkti meter, along with mantra-viniyoga elements (identifying the ṛṣi and bīja components) used in ritual and japa.