Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 123

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

हनद्वयांते वर्मास्त्रं मंत्रः षोडशवर्णवान् । अगस्त्योऽस्य मुनिश्छंदो बृहती देवता पुनः ॥ १२३ ॥

Transliteration

hanadvayāṃte varmāstraṃ maṃtraḥ ṣoḍaśavarṇavān | agastyo'sya muniśchaṃdo bṛhatī devatā punaḥ || 123 ||

Translation

เมื่อจบสองพยางค์ ‘ฮนะ’ จะมีมนต์วรมาสตร (เกราะคุ้มครอง-อาวุธ) ซึ่งมีสิบหกพยางค์ ฤๅษีคืออคัสตยะ ฉันท์คือพฤหตี และเทวตาประธานยังคงเป็นองค์เดิมดังที่กล่าวไว้ก่อน

Word by Word

• हन-द्वय-अन्ते: at the end of the two ‘hana’ (syllables)
• हन-द्वय-अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हन + द्वय + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थे अव्ययवत्—‘हनद्वयस्य अन्ते’ (at the end of the two ‘hana’ syllables)

• वर्म-अस्त्रम्: armor and weapon (mantra-limb)
• वर्म-अस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन् + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (समाहार)—वर्म च अस्त्रं च

• मन्त्रः: the mantra
• मन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• षोडश-वर्णवान्: having sixteen syllables
• षोडश-वर्णवान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश + वर्णवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास—षोडश वर्णाः यस्य सः

• अगस्त्यः: Agastya
• अगस्त्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगस्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अस्य: of this (mantra)
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मुनिः: sage (seer)
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• छन्दः: meter
• छन्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बृहती: Bṛhatī (meter)
• बृहती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; छन्दो-नाम

• देवता: deity (presiding deity)
• देवता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुनः: again / further
• पुनः: Kriya-Visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/पुनः-शब्दः (adverb)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Agastya
• Bṛhatī (Chandas)

FAQs

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

It codifies mantra-lakṣaṇa—identifying a mantra by its syllable-count, ṛṣi (seer), chandas (metre), and devatā—so that recitation is done with correct Vedic orientation and efficacy, especially for protective (varma) practice.

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

By naming the devatā and the proper Vedic parameters, the verse frames mantra-recitation as disciplined devotion—bhakti expressed through precise remembrance, invocation, and reverent adherence to scriptural method.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Chandas and mantra-vidhi: the verse specifies the Bṛhatī metre and the mantra’s ṛṣi (Agastya) and syllable-count (sixteen), which are key practical details used in correct ritual recitation and viniyoga.