Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

बालायांते तु रामाय विष्णवे हृदयांतिमः । सप्तचत्वारिंशदर्णो मालामन्त्रोऽयमीरितः ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

bālāyāṃte tu rāmāya viṣṇave hṛdayāṃtimaḥ | saptacatvāriṃśadarṇo mālāmantro'yamīritaḥ || 52 ||

Translation

Dengan suku benih “bālā” diletakkan pada penghujungnya, dan dengan “Rāmāya Viṣṇave” sebagai rumusan hati penutup, inilah yang diisytiharkan sebagai mantra tasbih yang terdiri daripada empat puluh tujuh suku kata.

Word by Word

• bālāyām: in/with ‘bālā’
• bālāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• ante: at the end
• ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• rāmāya: to/for Rāma
• rāmāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• viṣṇave: to/for Viṣṇu
• viṣṇave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• hṛdaya-antimaḥ: ending with ‘hṛdaya’ / the final (part) ‘hṛdaya’
• hṛdaya-antimaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक) + antima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: hṛdaya-antima (हृदयान्तिम = हृदयस्य अन्तिमः)

• sapta-catvāriṃśat-arṇaḥ: having forty-seven syllables
• sapta-catvāriṃśat-arṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक) + catvāriṃśat (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—द्विगुः (numerical): sapta-catvāriṃśat (47) + arṇa (अर्ण = अक्षर)

• mālā-mantraḥ: the garland-mantra (mālā-mantra)
• mālā-mantraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mālā (प्रातिपदिक) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: mālā-mantra (मालामन्त्र)

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• īritaḥ: is declared/has been taught
• īritaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: īr (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense): ‘has been stated/uttered’

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a technical Vedanga-style mantra discussion, traditionally in dialogue context with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Rama (Lakshmi)

FAQs

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

It defines a specific Viṣṇu-centered mālā-mantra by its structure (end-syllable, concluding hṛdaya-formula) and by its exact syllable-count, emphasizing disciplined japa as a precise sādhana.

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

By prescribing a rosary-mantra addressed to Viṣṇu and linked with Rāmā (Lakṣmī), it frames bhakti as steady remembrance (japa) done with correct mantra-form and devotional intent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-śāstra precision: the verse highlights arṇa-saṅkhyā (syllable counting) and mantra-aṅga usage (hṛdaya-ending), reflecting a technical, rule-based approach aligned with Vedāṅga-style methodology.