Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 178

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

नाम्नां सहस्रं मनसोऽभीष्टसंपादनक्षमम् ॥ १७८ ॥

Transliteration

nāmnāṃ sahasraṃ manaso'bhīṣṭasaṃpādanakṣamam || 178 ||

Translation

പവിത്രമായ സഹസ്രനാമം മനസ്സിന്റെ അഭീഷ്ടലക്ഷ്യങ്ങൾ സിദ്ധിപ്പിക്കാൻ ശേഷിയുള്ളതാണ്।

Word by Word

• नाम्नाम्: of names
• नाम्नाम्: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• सहस्रम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मनसः: of the mind
• मनसः: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अभीष्ट-संपादन-क्षमम्: capable of accomplishing what is desired
• अभीष्ट-संपादन-क्षमम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभीष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + संपादन (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समासः (Determinative): अभीष्टस्य संपादनम् (desired attainment) तस्मिन् क्षमम् (capable)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/Mantra context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It extols the sahasranāma (recitation of a thousand sacred names) as a potent sādhana that can effectively bring the mind’s aspirations to fulfillment—implying both inner purification and outward attainments when practiced with faith and discipline.

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

By highlighting “names” as efficacious, the verse points to nāma-japa as a direct form of bhakti: devotion expressed through repeated remembrance and praise, where the Divine is approached through His/Her nāmas.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-prayoga principles aligned with Vedanga concerns (especially śikṣā and vyākaraṇa in correct sound/form): disciplined recitation of properly formed names is presented as a practical means to produce intended results (saṃpādana).