Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 163

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

जपतर्पणहोमार्चासेकसिद्धमनुर्नरः । कुर्यादुक्तान्प्रयोगांश्च न चेत्तन्मनुदेवताः ॥ १६३ ॥

Transliteration

japatarpaṇahomārcāsekasiddhamanurnaraḥ | kuryāduktānprayogāṃśca na cettanmanudevatāḥ || 163 ||

Translation

ജപം, തർപ്പണം, ഹോമം, അർച്ച, സേകം—ഇവയെല്ലാം അതിനായി സിദ്ധമായ മന്ത്രംകൊണ്ടുമാത്രം ചെയ്യണം; അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ആ മന്ത്രത്തിന്റെ അധിദേവതകൾ പ്രതികരിക്കുകയില്ല॥

Word by Word

• जप-तर्पण-होम-अर्चा-सेक-सिद्धम्: accomplished by japa, tarpaṇa, homa, worship, and sprinkling
• जप-तर्पण-होम-अर्चा-सेक-सिद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक) + तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक) + होम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चा (प्रातिपदिक) + सेक (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्ध (कृदन्त; √सिध् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; ‘जपादिभिः सिद्धम्’ (accomplished by japa, tarpaṇa, homa, worship, sprinkling)

• मनुः: the mantra (manu)
• मनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्ु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नरः: a man/practitioner
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• उक्तान्: mentioned
• उक्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्त (कृदन्त; √वच् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (said/mentioned)

• प्रयोगान्: applications/ritual procedures
• प्रयोगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक अव्यय (conditional particle: if)

• तत्-मनु-देवताः: the deities of that mantra
• तत्-मनु-देवताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + मनु (प्रातिपदिक) + देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य मनोः देवताः = deities of that mantra)

Speaker

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

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that ritual acts become spiritually effective only when performed with a properly established (siddha) mantra; otherwise the intended divine connection does not manifest.

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

It frames devotion as disciplined worship: bhakti expressed through japa, worship, and offerings must follow correct mantra-prayoga so that the devotee’s invocation truly reaches the mantra’s presiding deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga (technical application of mantras) in ritual—how japa, tarpaṇa, homa, arcā, and seka require a mantra validated for that specific rite, reflecting procedural precision central to Vedanga-style ritual science.