Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 76

Yakṣiṇī-Mantra-Sādhana Nirūpaṇa

Lakṣmī-avatāra-vidyāḥ: Bālā, Annapūrṇā, Bagalā

Devanagari script

द्वाविंशत्यक्षरो मंत्रो भूमीष्टौ भूमिसंपुटः । लक्ष्मीष्टौ श्रीपुटो विप्र स्नृतिर्लभनुचंद्रयुक् ॥ ७६ ॥

Transliteration

dvāviṃśatyakṣaro maṃtro bhūmīṣṭau bhūmisaṃpuṭaḥ | lakṣmīṣṭau śrīpuṭo vipra snṛtirlabhanucaṃdrayuk || 76 ||

Translation

ഹേ വിപ്രാ, ഈ മന്ത്രം ഇരുപത്തിരണ്ട് അക്ഷരങ്ങളുള്ളതാണ്. ഇത് ‘ഭൂമീഷ്ടൗ’ ആയി ‘ഭൂമി-സംപുട’ത്തിൽ ആവൃതം; അതുപോലെ ‘ലക്ഷ്മീഷ്ടൗ’ ആയി ‘ശ്രീ-പുട’ത്തിൽ ആവൃതം. ‘ലഭനു’യും ‘ചന്ദ്ര’യും ചേർന്നതെന്നു സ്മൃതം.

Word by Word

• dvā-viṃśati-akṣaraḥ: twenty-two-syllabled
• dvā-viṃśati-akṣaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvā + viṃśati + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); द्विगु: 'of twenty-two syllables'

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

• bhūmi-iṣṭau: the two Bhūmi-iṣṭas
• bhūmi-iṣṭau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi + iṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'the two iṣṭa (offerings/rites) of Bhūmi' (contextual)

• bhūmi-saṃpuṭaḥ: Bhūmi-saṃpuṭa (encapsulation)
• bhūmi-saṃpuṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi + saṃpuṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'Bhūmi-envelope/encapsulation' (technical term)

• lakṣmī-iṣṭau: the two Lakṣmī-iṣṭas
• lakṣmī-iṣṭau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī + iṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'the two iṣṭas of Lakṣmī'

• śrī-puṭaḥ: Śrī-puṭa
• śrī-puṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + puṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'Śrī-envelope/puṭa'

• vipra: O brāhmaṇa
• vipra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन)

• snṛtiḥ: snṛti (textual/technical term; uncertain)
• snṛtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); reading uncertain (possibly smṛtiḥ intended)

• labha-nu-candra-yuk: endowed with (labha/nu) and moon-sign (technical)
• labha-nu-candra-yuk: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: labha + nu + candra + yuk (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि: 'endowed with labha/nu and candra (syllables/marks)' (highly technical; segmentation uncertain)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical Vedanga/mantra-vidya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhūmi
• Lakṣmī
• Śrī
• Candra

FAQs

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

It preserves a technical tradition: the mantra’s power is tied to precise akṣara-count and to protective/enhancing ‘puṭa/saṃpuṭa’ framing, linking prosperity (Śrī/Lakṣmī) and stability (Bhūmi) with lunar (Candra) reinforcement.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through disciplined mantra-japa and correct ritual formation—devotion becomes effective when reverence is joined to exact recitation, traditional remembrance (smṛti), and proper mantra-encapsulation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-śāstra technique grounded in Vedanga-style precision: akṣara (syllable) counting, correct phonetic handling (śikṣā influence), and ritual ‘saṃpuṭa/puṭa’ methods used to frame a mantra for specific results.