Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 109

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

वह्निः शेषासनो भांतः केवलो द्व्यक्षरो मनुः । एकाक्षरोक्त वत्सर्वं मुनिध्यानार्चनादिकम् ॥ १०९ ॥

Transliteration

vahniḥ śeṣāsano bhāṃtaḥ kevalo dvyakṣaro manuḥ | ekākṣarokta vatsarvaṃ munidhyānārcanādikam || 109 ||

Translation

‘Vahni’ (Agni), ‘Śeṣāsana’ (Aquele que repousa sobre Śeṣa), ‘Bhānta’ (o Radiante) e ‘Kevala’ (o Absoluto) são mantras sagrados de duas sílabas. Porém, no mantra de uma só sílaba declara-se tudo—como a meditação e a adoração dos munis e as disciplinas afins.

Word by Word

• vahniḥ: fire
• vahniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), एकवचनम्

• śeṣa-āsanaḥ: having Śeṣa as his seat
• śeṣa-āsanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (śeṣaḥ āsanam yasya / śeṣe āsanaṃ yasya = having Śeṣa as seat)

• bhāntaḥ: shining
• bhāntaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhānta (कृदन्त; √bhā (भा) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; भूतकृदन्तः (past participle used adjectivally)

• kevalaḥ: alone, pure
• kevalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• dvi-akṣaraḥ: two-syllabled
• dvi-akṣaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः (two-syllabled)

• manuḥ: the mantra
• manuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; मन्त्र-विशेषः

• ekākṣara-uktavat: as stated (in the one-syllable form)
• ekākṣara-uktavat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त; √vac (वच्) + क्त) + -vat (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ekākṣareṇa uktaṃ yathā = as stated with one syllable) + वत् (in the manner of)

• tat: that
• tat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; निर्देशार्थम् (demonstrative)

• sarvam: all (of it)
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• muni-dhyāna-arcana-ādikam: sage-meditation, worship, and the like
• muni-dhyāna-arcana-ādikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक) + arcana (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + -ka (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः/समाहारः (muni-dhyāna, arcana, etc.)

Speaker

Narada (instructional discourse within Vedanga/Mantra-vidya section; traditionally framed in Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Shesha
• Vishnu (as Sheshashayana/Narayana)

FAQs

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

It teaches mantra-hierarchy: many devotional and contemplative practices are said to be gathered into the potency of a single-syllable mantra, while certain divine epithets function as concise two-syllable mantras.

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

By presenting divine names like Śeṣāsana and Bhānta as mantras, it frames bhakti as name-based upāsanā—meditation and worship centered on the Lord—condensed into powerful mantra-forms.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A mantra-śāstra/phonetic (śikṣā-like) insight: the count of syllables (akṣara) matters, and specific akṣara-mantras are linked to defined ritual and meditative applications (dhyāna, arcana).