Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 197

Hanumān-mantra-kathana: Mantra-bheda, Nyāsa, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

दीर्घपुच्छेन वर्णांते वदेद्वेष्टय वैरिणम् । जंभयद्वयमाभाष्य वर्मास्त्रांतो मनुर्मतः ॥ १९७ ॥

Transliteration

dīrghapucchena varṇāṃte vadedveṣṭaya vairiṇam | jaṃbhayadvayamābhāṣya varmāstrāṃto manurmataḥ || 197 ||

Translation

ให้วางอักษรที่มีหางยาวไว้ท้ายสุด แล้วกล่าว “เวษฺฏยะ” เพื่อผูกมัดศัตรู. เมื่อออกเสียง “ชัมภยะ” สองบทแล้ว ตามคติสืบทอด มนต์ย่อมถือว่าสิ้นสุดด้วย “วรมาสฺตระ” คืออาวุธเกราะคุ้มครอง.

Word by Word

• दीर्घ-पुच्छेन: with (the word) ‘Dīrghapuccha’ / by long-tail
• दीर्घ-पुच्छेन: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक) + पुच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (दीर्घं पुच्छं येन/दीर्घपुच्छेन)

• वर्ण-अन्ते: at the end of a syllable/letter
• वर्ण-अन्ते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (वर्णस्य अन्ते)

• वदेत्: should say/recite
• वदेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विध्यर्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वेष्टय: wrap/enclose!
• वेष्टय: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेष्ट् (धातु) (णिच् causative assumed)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; (पाठभेद-संभवः: वेष्टय/वेष्टयेत्)

• वैरिणम्: the enemy
• वैरिणम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• जम्भय-द्वयम्: the pair (of words) ‘Jambhaya’
• जम्भय-द्वयम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जम्भय (प्रातिपदिक/पद) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (जम्भय-नामकं द्वयम्)

• आभाष्य: having uttered
• आभाष्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + भाष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/अव्ययभाव), ‘having spoken/uttered’

• वर्म-अस्त्र-अन्तः: the end/termination of the ‘Varma-weapon’ (mantra section)
• वर्म-अस्त्र-अन्तः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (वर्मास्त्रस्य अन्तः)

• मनुः: the mantra / Manu
• मनुः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• मतः: is considered/held to be
• मतः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त-प्राय विशेषण (considered/held)

Speaker

Narada (teaching mantra-prayoga within Vedanga-aligned technical lore)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It highlights a technical rule of mantra-prayoga: correct phonetic placement (varṇa-anta) and a protective closure (varmāstra) are treated as essential for a mantra’s intended effect and safe completion.

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

Indirectly: even when mantras are used for protection, the Purāṇic approach frames them within disciplined, rule-bound recitation—implying that power is safeguarded by dharma and reverent adherence rather than mere aggression.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā/Vyākaraṇa-style precision: the verse stresses phoneme placement (varṇānte), fixed mantric imperatives (veṣṭaya, jaṃbhaya), and the standard practice of ending with a protective kavaca/varmāstra closure.