Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

Hayagrīva-pūjā-vyākhyāna

Worship Procedure and Mantra-Siddhi of Hayagrīva

Devanagari script

अष्टोत्तरशतं यावद्भक्षयेदभिमंत्रितम् । सरस्वत्यवतारोऽसौ सत्यं स्याद्भुवि मानवः ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭottaraśataṃ yāvadbhakṣayedabhimaṃtritam | sarasvatyavatāro'sau satyaṃ syādbhuvi mānavaḥ || 53 ||

Translation

Se uma pessoa comer (a oferenda) consagrada com mantra até perfazer cento e oito (vezes/unidades), esse ser humano na terra torna-se, em verdade, uma encarnação de Sarasvatī.

Word by Word

• अष्टोत्तरशतम्: one hundred and eight (times/quantity)
• अष्टोत्तरशतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट + उत्तर + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः (numeral compound) = 108

• यावत्: as long as / until
• यावत्: Desha/Avadhi (अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधिक/परिमाणवाचक (as long as / up to)

• भक्षयेत्: should eat
• भक्षयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अभिमन्त्रितम्: consecrated (by mantra)
• अभिमन्त्रितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + मन्त्रित (कृदन्त; √मन्त्र् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; past passive participle ‘consecrated/enchanted’

• सरस्वत्यवतारः: an incarnation of Sarasvatī
• सरस्वत्यवतारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती + अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी) ‘सरस्वत्याः अवतारः’

• असौ: that person
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• सत्यम्: truly
• सत्यम्: Prayojana/Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (indeclinable-like) ‘truly’

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन

• मानवः: a human
• मानवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/mantra-vidhi section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-siddha (consecrated) ritual intake, performed in a prescribed measure (108), is a means to receive Sarasvatī’s grace—resulting in heightened speech, learning, and sacred eloquence.

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

By presenting a concrete upāsanā-vidhi: devotion is expressed through disciplined mantra-practice and reverent acceptance of a sanctified offering, leading to divine embodiment (Sarasvatī-avatāra-bhāva) as a fruit of bhakti and śraddhā.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-vidhi and saṅkhyā-niyama (rule of sacred number 108) are emphasized—showing how correct consecration (abhimantraṇa) and regulated performance are central to technical Vedic practice.