Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

विलिख्य क्रमतो धीमान्मनुं संशोधयेत्ततः । नामाद्यक्षरमारभ्य यावन्मन्त्रादि वर्णकम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

vilikhya kramato dhīmānmanuṃ saṃśodhayettataḥ | nāmādyakṣaramārabhya yāvanmantrādi varṇakam || 4 ||

Translation

मंत्र क्रमाने लिहून बुद्धिमान साधकाने नंतर त्याचे संशोधन करावे; नामाच्या पहिल्या अक्षरापासून सुरू करून मंत्राच्या आदिभागासह प्रत्येक वर्णापर्यंत तपासावे।

Word by Word

• विलिख्य: having written/drawn
• विलिख्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-लिख् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव

• क्रमतः: in sequence
• क्रमतः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = 'in order/stepwise'

• धीमान्: the wise (person)
• धीमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धीमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मनुम्: Manu / the mantra-formula (manu)
• मनुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• संशोधयेत्: should purify/correct
• संशोधयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-शुध् (धातु) [णिच् causative: शोधय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = 'then/thereafter'

• नाम-आदि-अक्षरम्: the first syllable of the name
• नाम-आदि-अक्षरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाम (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: नाम्नः आदिः अक्षरम् (the initial syllable of the name)

• आरभ्य: starting from
• आरभ्य: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-रभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-प्राय (gerund used as preposition), अव्यय = 'starting from'

• यावत्: up to/as far as
• यावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (limit marker)

• मन्त्र-आदि: beginning with the mantra (etc.)
• मन्त्र-आदि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुषार्थे (beginning with mantra); here used adjectivally qualifying वर्णकम्

• वर्णकम्: the sequence of letters/description of letters
• वर्णकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्णक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada within the Vedanga/Mantra-vidhi context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that mantra-sādhana depends on śabda-śuddhi (purity and correctness of sound); accurate letters and sequence protect the intended spiritual potency and meaning.

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

Even in bhakti-oriented practice, the verse teaches disciplined reverence for the Lord’s names and mantras—careful writing and verification become a form of attentive devotion (smaraṇa with precision).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (linguistic correctness) are implied: one must check each akṣara (syllable/letter) from the opening name onward so the mantra is recited and transmitted without corruption.