Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

दशाक्षरेण चेद्रात्रौ सायाह्नेऽष्टादशार्णतः । उभयीमुभयेनैव कुर्यादित्यपरे जगुः ॥ ९१ ॥

Transliteration

daśākṣareṇa cedrātrau sāyāhne'ṣṭādaśārṇataḥ | ubhayīmubhayenaiva kuryādityapare jaguḥ || 91 ||

Translation

Nếu nghi lễ được cử hành vào ban đêm thì nên thực hiện bằng chân ngôn mười âm (daśākṣarī); còn vào lúc hoàng hôn chiều tối (sāyāhne) thì nên thực hiện bằng chân ngôn mười tám âm. Lại có người nói rằng, nghi lễ đem lại cả hai quả báo nên được làm bằng cách kết hợp cả hai chân ngôn.

Word by Word

• दशाक्षरेण: with the ten-syllabled (mantra)
• दशाक्षरेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश-अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), एकवचन; दश+अक्षर = ‘ten-syllabled (mantra)’

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक निपात (conditional particle)

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th), एकवचन

• सायाह्ने: in the evening
• सायाह्ने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साय-अह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th), एकवचन; साय + अह्न = ‘evening-time’

• अष्टादशार्णतः: from/with the eighteen-syllabled (mantra)
• अष्टादशार्णतः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टादश-अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान/5th), एकवचन; -तः = ablative sense ‘from/by means of’; अष्टादश+अर्ण = ‘eighteen-syllabled’

• उभयीम्: both (methods)
• उभयीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• उभयेन: by both (together)
• उभयेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• अपरे: others (some authorities)
• अपरे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), बहुवचन

• जगुः: said/declared
• जगुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching as part of technical ritual guidance; traditional dialogue context with Sanatkumara lineage)

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 teaches that mantra practice is strengthened when aligned with proper time (kāla), prescribing different mantras for night and evening twilight, and even allowing a combined practice for a fuller, “twofold” spiritual outcome.

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

By regulating japa with specific Vishnu-oriented mantras according to sacred times (night and sāyaṃ-sandhyā), it frames devotion as disciplined, time-conscious worship rather than casual repetition.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects procedural ritual science—kāla-vicāra (time-determination) and sandhyā-related practice—showing how correct timing governs mantra choice and the expected fruit of the rite.