Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

एतेषु मंत्रवर्येषु स्वानुकूलं मनुं भजेत् । एषामाद्ये विराट्छदोऽन्येषु त्रिष्टुबुदाहृतम् ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

eteṣu maṃtravaryeṣu svānukūlaṃ manuṃ bhajet | eṣāmādye virāṭchado'nyeṣu triṣṭubudāhṛtam || 43 ||

Translation

ఈ ఉత్తమ మంత్రాలలో సాధకుడు తనకు అనుకూలమైన మంత్రాన్ని ఆశ్రయించాలి. వీటిలో మొదటిది విరాట్ ఛందస్సులో, మిగిలినవి త్రిష్టుభ్ ఛందస్సులో చెప్పబడ్డాయి.

Word by Word

• eteṣu: in these
• eteṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• maṃtra-varyeṣu: among the best mantras
• maṃtra-varyeṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṃtra (प्रातिपदिक) + varya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; कर्मधारयः ‘श्रेष्ठाः मन्त्राः’

• svānukūlam: favorable to oneself
• svānukūlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + anukūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘स्वस्य अनुकूलम्’

• manum: Manu (a sage/Manu)
• manum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• bhajet: should worship/choose
• bhajet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhaj (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• eṣām: of these
• eṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• ādye: in the first
• ādye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘in the first (one)’

• virāṭ-chandaḥ: the Virāṭ metre
• virāṭ-chandaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: virāṭ (प्रातिपदिक) + chandas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘विराट्-छन्दः’

• anyeṣu: in the others
• anyeṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• triṣṭup: Triṣṭubh (metre)
• triṣṭup: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: triṣṭubh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (Vedic metre-name; stem triṣṭubh, nom. triṣṭup)

• udāhṛtam: is declared
• udāhṛtam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-ā-hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त/PPP), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘is said/declared’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-practice should be aligned with the practitioner’s fitness (svānukūla), and that correct chandas (metre) is part of preserving a mantra’s intended power and meaning.

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

By recommending a personally suitable mantra, it supports steady, heartfelt japa and worship—key to bhakti—while insisting that devotion be grounded in proper Vedic form.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Chandas (the Vedanga of Vedic metre): it identifies Virāṭ for the first mantra and Triṣṭubh for the remaining mantras, guiding correct recitation and ritual usage.