Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39

Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya

Devanagari script

हृल्लेखाकुंशबीजाढ्यः प्रध्वस्तः स कथ्यते । सप्तार्णो बालमंत्रस्तु कुमारो वसुवर्णवान् ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

hṛllekhākuṃśabījāḍhyaḥ pradhvastaḥ sa kathyate | saptārṇo bālamaṃtrastu kumāro vasuvarṇavān || 39 ||

Translation

มนต์ที่ประกอบด้วยพยางค์เมล็ด ‘หฤล’, ‘เลขา’ และ ‘กุํศะ’ เรียกว่า ‘ประธวัสตะ’ ส่วน ‘พาลมนต์’ ที่มี 7 พยางค์ เรียกว่า ‘กุมาระ’ และมีวสุ-วรรณะ (แปดวรรณะ) ครบถ้วน

Word by Word

• हृल्लेखाकुंशबीजाढ्यः: endowed with (the) hṛt, lekhā, aṅkuśa, and bīja
• हृल्लेखाकुंशबीजाढ्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृत्-लेखा-अङ्कुश-बीज-आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष—‘हृत्-लेखा-अङ्कुश-बीजैः आढ्यः’ (endowed with the seed-mantras etc.)

• प्रध्वस्तः: destroyed/ruined
• प्रध्वस्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रध्वस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• सः: he/that (one)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कथ्यते: is said/called
• कथ्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• सप्तार्णः: seven-syllabled
• सप्तार्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त-अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; द्विगु—सप्त (seven) + अर्ण (syllable/letter)

• बालमन्त्रः: the ‘child’ mantra
• बालमन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल-मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘बालः मन्त्रः’

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• कुमारः: a youth/prince
• कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• वसुवर्णवान्: having a golden hue
• वसुवर्णवान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वसु-वर्णवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘वसु-वर्णः यस्य सः’ (having the color of gold/wealth)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on mantra-śāstra within Vedāṅga/technical tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Kumara

FAQs

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

It highlights that mantra-efficacy is treated as a precise śāstric science: specific bīja-syllables and the exact count of akṣaras/varṇas define a mantra’s recognized form and its intended ritual-spiritual application.

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

Bhakti here is supported by disciplined mantra-japa: devotion is not only emotional reverence but also careful preservation of mantra-form (bīja and syllable-count), ensuring japa and ritual recitation remain faithful to tradition.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics) and mantra-śāstra: the verse stresses correct phonemic composition—bīja usage and counting of akṣaras/varṇas (seven-syllabled, eight-varṇa)—as essential for accurate recitation.