Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

षोडशार्णो युवा प्रौढश्चत्वारिंशतिवर्णकः । त्रिंशद्वर्णश्चतुःषष्टिवर्णश्चापि शताक्षरः ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

ṣoḍaśārṇo yuvā prauḍhaścatvāriṃśativarṇakaḥ | triṃśadvarṇaścatuḥṣaṣṭivarṇaścāpi śatākṣaraḥ || 40 ||

Translation

Thần chú mười sáu âm tiết được gọi là “trẻ trung”; thần chú bốn mươi âm tiết là “trưởng thành.” Cũng vậy, còn có các thần chú ba mươi âm tiết, sáu mươi bốn âm tiết, và cả những thần chú một trăm âm tiết.

Word by Word

• षोडशार्णः: sixteen-syllabled
• षोडशार्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश-अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; द्विगु—षोडश (sixteen) + अर्ण (syllable)

• युवा: a youth
• युवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• प्रौढः: mature
• प्रौढः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रौढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• चत्वारिंशतिवर्णकः: forty-lettered
• चत्वारिंशतिवर्णकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चत्वारिंशति-वर्णक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; द्विगु—चत्वारिंशति (forty) + वर्णक (having letters)

• त्रिंशद्वर्णः: thirty-lettered
• त्रिंशद्वर्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिंशत्-वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; द्विगु—त्रिंशत् (thirty) + वर्ण (letters)

• चतुःषष्टिवर्णः: sixty-four-lettered
• चतुःषष्टिवर्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुःषष्टि-वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; द्विगु—चतुःषष्टि (sixty-four) + वर्ण (letters)

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• शताक्षरः: hundred-syllabled
• शताक्षरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत-अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; द्विगु—शत (hundred) + अक्षर (syllable)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/Shiksha context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It highlights that mantra-recitation is not arbitrary: mantras are traditionally classified by akṣara/varṇa count, reflecting a disciplined Vedic science (Śikṣā) that supports accurate chanting and ritual efficacy.

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

Indirectly, it supports Bhakti by emphasizing correct mantra-form and recitation standards; devotion in the Purāṇic-Vedic frame is strengthened when praise and japa are performed with proper śabda (sound) discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics) and mantra-technicality: counting akṣaras/varṇas to classify mantras (e.g., 16, 30, 40, 64, 100), which informs how chants are learned, paced, and applied in ritual/japa.