Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

Pañca-prakṛti-nirūpaṇa and Mantra-vidhi: Rādhā, Mahālakṣmī, Durgā, Sarasvatī, Sāvitrī; plus Sāvitrī-Pañjara

Devanagari script

लक्ष्मीमायाकामवाणीपूर्वा कमलवासिनी । ङेंता वह्निप्रियांतोऽयं मंत्रकल्पद्रुमः परः ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

lakṣmīmāyākāmavāṇīpūrvā kamalavāsinī | ṅeṃtā vahnipriyāṃto'yaṃ maṃtrakalpadrumaḥ paraḥ || 50 ||

Translation

ଲକ୍ଷ୍ମୀ, ମାୟା, କାମ, ବାଣୀ—ଏହି ବୀଜଧ୍ୱନିରୁ ଆରମ୍ଭ ହୋଇ, ‘କମଳବାସିନୀ’ ପଦଯୁକ୍ତ, ଏବଂ ‘ଙେଂତା’ ‘ବହ୍ନିପ୍ରିୟା’ରେ ଶେଷ—ଏହାକୁ ପରମ ‘ମନ୍ତ୍ର-କଳ୍ପଦ୍ରୁମ’ କୁହାଯାଏ।

Word by Word

• लक्ष्मी-माया-काम-वाणी-पूर्वा: beginning with ‘Lakṣmī, Māyā, Kāma, Vāṇī’
• लक्ष्मी-माया-काम-वाणी-पूर्वा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्ष्मी+माया+काम+वाणी+पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (पूर्वा = beginning with; ‘lakṣmī, māyā, kāma, vāṇī’ इत्येतैः पूर्वा/आद्या)

• कमलवासिनी: the lotus-dwelling (goddess)
• कमलवासिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल+वासिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कमले वसति इति)

• ङेंता: (seed syllable) ṅeṃtā
• ङेंता: Sambandha (मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ङेंता (बीजाक्षर/अव्यय-स्वरूप)
• Form: मन्त्रबीज/अव्यय (seed-syllable; indeclinable mantra element)

• वह्नि-प्रिय-अन्तः: ending with ‘vahnipriya’
• वह्नि-प्रिय-अन्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह्नि+प्रिय+अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अन्तः = ending with; ‘vahnipriya’ इत्यनेन अन्तः)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (this)

• मन्त्र-कल्पद्रुमः: the wish-fulfilling tree of mantra(s)
• मन्त्र-कल्पद्रुमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र+कल्पद्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मन्त्ररूपः कल्पद्रुमः/मन्त्राणां कल्पद्रुमः)

• परः: supreme
• परः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (supreme/excellent)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi
• Sarasvati (Vani)
• Devi (Kamalavasini)
• Agni (Vahni)

FAQs

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

It frames a specific mantra set as a “Mantra-Kalpadruma,” emphasizing that correctly preserved beginnings and endings (seed-syllables and epithets) are essential for a mantra’s intended spiritual and ritual efficacy.

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

By invoking divine names/epithets—especially of the Goddess (Lakṣmī, Vāṇī/Sarasvatī, Kamalavāsinī)—the verse highlights devotion through sacred utterance (nāma/mantra) as a disciplined, reverent approach to divine grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical mantra-lakṣaṇa point: mantras are identified and transmitted by their opening and closing segments (pūrva/anta), a method relevant to correct recitation, cataloging, and ritual application.