Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 159

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

जपंश्च प्रणवं मन्त्रं ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मकम् । कोटिसूर्यसमं तेजो ध्यायेदात्मनि निर्मलम् ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

japaṃśca praṇavaṃ mantraṃ brahmaviṣṇuśivātmakam | koṭisūryasamaṃ tejo dhyāyedātmani nirmalam || 59 ||

Translation

Hendaklah ia juga mengulang Pranava (Oṁ), mantra yang hakikatnya merangkum Brahmā, Viṣṇu dan Śiva; lalu bermeditasi di dalam diri pada cahaya suci tanpa noda, setara sinar sepuluh juta matahari.

Word by Word

• जपन्: chanting
• जपन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (कर्तरि)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक conjunction)

• प्रणवम्: praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; प्रणवम् इति मन्त्रं (apposition)

• ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मकम्: having the nature of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva
• ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + विष्णु + शिव + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (X-आत्मक = consisting of X)

• कोटिसूर्यसमम्: equal to ten million suns
• कोटिसूर्यसमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि + सूर्य + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कोटि-सूर्य-सम = equal to ten million suns)

• तेजः: radiance
• तेजः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate
• ध्यायेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• आत्मनि: in the self
• आत्मनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• निर्मलम्: pure
• निर्मलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (तेजः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Pranava (Om)

FAQs

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

It teaches a combined discipline of japa and inner contemplation: repeating Oṃ and meditating on the pure, limitless divine radiance within, which leads the mind toward purification and liberation.

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

By presenting Praṇava as embodying Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva, the verse supports one-pointed reverence toward the Supreme through a universal mantra, turning devotion into steady remembrance and inward absorption.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga in practice: correct use of Praṇava for japa and dhyāna (a discipline aligned with Śikṣā for sound and recitation), emphasizing internalization of mantra through contemplation of its meaning.