Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya

Devanagari script

त्र्यक्षरो हंसहीनो यः सुषुप्तः कीर्तितस्तु सः । विद्या वाप्यथवा मंत्रो भवेत्सप्तदशाक्षरः ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

tryakṣaro haṃsahīno yaḥ suṣuptaḥ kīrtitastu saḥ | vidyā vāpyathavā maṃtro bhavetsaptadaśākṣaraḥ || 35 ||

Translation

Sesuatu yang bersuku kata tiga dan tanpa ‘haṃsa’ (makna mistik) disebut sebagai keadaan tidur lena (suṣupti). Tetapi vidyā atau mantra yang sejati dikatakan mempunyai tujuh belas suku kata.

Word by Word

• tri-akṣaraḥ: three-syllabled
• tri-akṣaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; dvigu: 'three-syllabled'

• haṃsa-hīnaḥ: without 'haṃsa'
• haṃsa-hīnaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: haṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'devoid of haṃsa'

• yaḥ: which / who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• suṣuptaḥ: asleep / dormant
• suṣuptaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: su-√svap (स्वप् धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) past participle, Pumliṅga Prathamā Ekavacana; used adjectivally

• kīrtitaḥ: is called
• kīrtitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kīrt (कीर्त् धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) past passive participle, Pumliṅga Prathamā Ekavacana; 'is called'

• tu: indeed / but
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle)

• saḥ: that (one)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• vidyā: a vidyā (spell/knowledge-formula)
• vidyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-nipāta (disjunctive particle)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle), additive

• athavā: or else
• athavā: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya (alternative marker)

• mantraḥ: mantra
• mantraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• bhavet: would be / should be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्, optative), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• sapta-daśa-akṣaraḥ: seventeen-syllabled
• sapta-daśa-akṣaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (संख्या) + daśa (संख्या) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; dvigu: 'seventeen-syllabled'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It contrasts a deficient, ‘haṃsa’-less three-syllable utterance—linked here with the inertness of deep sleep—with the completeness of a properly formed vidyā/mantra, characterized as seventeen-syllabled, emphasizing precision in mantra-śāstra.

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

By implying that effective spiritual practice requires correctly constituted mantra-vidyā rather than incomplete sound-forms; in Bhakti contexts, this supports disciplined japa and accurate recitation as a support for devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-akṣara (syllable) analysis—counting and preserving exact syllables for correct chanting, a core technical concern in Vedic recitation and mantra application.