Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

Gaṇeśa Mantra-vidhi: Mahāgaṇapati Gāyatrī, Vakratuṇḍa Mantra, Nyāsa, Homa, Āvaraṇa-pūjā, and Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

पूर्वमंत्राक्षरैर्मंत्रैः स्वाहांतैश्च चतुश्चतुः । मूलमंत्रैश्चतुर्वारपूर्वकं संप्रतर्प्य च ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

pūrvamaṃtrākṣarairmaṃtraiḥ svāhāṃtaiśca catuścatuḥ | mūlamaṃtraiścaturvārapūrvakaṃ saṃpratarpya ca || 42 ||

Translation

پچھلے منتر کے حروف سے بنے، ‘سواہا’ پر ختم ہونے والے منتروں سے ہر ایک کو چار چار بار تَرپَن کرے؛ پھر مول منتر کو چار جپ پہلے کر کے دوبارہ تَرپَن کرے۔

Word by Word

• पूर्व-मन्त्र-अक्षरैः: with the syllables of the prior mantra
• पूर्व-मन्त्र-अक्षरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पूर्वस्य मन्त्रस्य अक्षराणि)

• मन्त्रैः: with mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural

• स्वाहा-अन्तैः: ending with “svāhā”
• स्वाहा-अन्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाहा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्वाहायाः अन्तः येषां ते)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• चतुḥ: four times
• चतुḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः (numeral adverb)

• चतुḥ: four (each)
• चतुḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः (repetition for distributive sense)

• मूल-मन्त्रैः: with the root-mantras
• मूल-मन्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मूलः मन्त्रः)

• चतुर्-वार-पूर्वकम्: preceded by four repetitions (i.e., four times beforehand)
• चतुर्-वार-पूर्वकम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + वार (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन-रूपेण क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial accusative)

• सं-प्र-तर्प्य: having duly satisfied (offered oblations)
• सं-प्र-तर्प्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; उपसर्गाः—सम्, प्र; ‘having satisfied/propitiated’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue instructing Narada on technical ritual procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that spiritual efficacy in tarpana/propitiation depends on correct mantra construction (syllables and “svāhā” ending) and disciplined repetition counts, reflecting the Purana’s technical, Vedanga-oriented approach to ritual power.

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

While primarily procedural, the verse supports bhakti by prescribing a careful, reverent method of offering—showing that devotion is expressed through precise, faithful performance of mantra-led worship and satisfaction (tarpana) of the invoked sacred principle.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga and ritual counting (a practical aspect aligned with Śikṣā and Kalpa): how to form mantras from prior mantra-syllables, append “svāhā,” and apply fourfold repetitions before using the mūla-mantra.