Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

स सार्णो दृश्यते यस्तु स मंत्रो दग्धसंज्ञकः । अस्रं द्वाभ्यां त्रिभिः षड्भिरष्टाभिर्दृश्यतेऽक्षरेः ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

sa sārṇo dṛśyate yastu sa maṃtro dagdhasaṃjñakaḥ | asraṃ dvābhyāṃ tribhiḥ ṣaḍbhiraṣṭābhirdṛśyate'kṣareḥ || 30 ||

Translation

凡咒中可见“sārṇa”（鼻音/近似visarga之记号，或附加的语音标记）者，名为“dagdha”（烧毁、失格之咒）。所谓“asra”的咒形/配置，则在由二、三、六或八个音节（akṣara）构成时显现。

Word by Word

• सः: that
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सार्णः: having ‘arṇa’/with arṇa (technical)
• सार्णः: समनाधिकरण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सार्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दृश्यते: is seen
• दृश्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: "is seen")

• यः: which
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; relative pronoun "who/which"

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle: "but/indeed")

• सः: that
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मन्त्रः: mantra
• मन्त्रः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दग्ध-संज्ञकः: called ‘burnt’
• दग्ध-संज्ञकः: समनाधिकरण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दग्ध + संज्ञक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (दग्धा संज्ञा यस्य/दग्ध इति संज्ञा)

• अस्रम्: asra (technical term)
• अस्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as object/subject in passive context

• द्वाभ्याम्: by/with two
• द्वाभ्याम्: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वि-शब्द, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), द्विवचन; instrumental dual "by/with two"

• त्रिभिः: by/with three
• त्रिभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; instrumental plural "by/with three"

• षड्भिः: by/with six
• षड्भिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्/षड् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; instrumental plural "by/with six"

• अष्टाभिः: by/with eight
• अष्टाभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; instrumental plural "by/with eight"

• दृश्यते: is seen
• दृश्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम; कर्मणि ("is seen")

• अक्षरैः: by syllables/letters
• अक्षरैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; instrumental plural "by/with syllables"

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/Mantra-śāstra context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that mantra-efficacy depends on correct phonetics and structure; certain phonetic marks and syllabic formations are treated as technical indicators for judging a mantra’s fitness in ritual use.

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

Even in devotion, the Purana upholds disciplined practice: bhakti expressed through japa and ritual should follow proper śikṣā (pronunciation) and mantra-lakṣaṇa so that worship is performed without technical faults.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā and mantra-śāstra: it classifies mantras by observable phonetic marks (like sārṇa) and by akṣara-count patterns (2/3/6/8), a practical diagnostic used in correct recitation and ritual application.