Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

Mantraśodhana, Dīkṣā-krama, Guru-Pādukā, Ajapā-Haṃsa, and Ṣaṭcakra-Kuṇḍalinī Sādhana

Devanagari script

नमोऽस्तु गुरवे तस्मा इष्टदेवस्वरूपिणे । यस्य वागमृतं हंति विषं संसारसंज्ञकम् ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

namo'stu gurave tasmā iṣṭadevasvarūpiṇe | yasya vāgamṛtaṃ haṃti viṣaṃ saṃsārasaṃjñakam || 57 ||

Translation

我礼敬那位上师——即所择本尊（Iṣṭa-devatā）的化身；其言语如甘露，能摧灭名为轮回（saṃsāra）的毒。

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन/नमस्कार-क्रिया (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (नमस्कारार्थक-निपातः)

• अस्तु: let there be
• अस्तु: क्रिया (Verb/action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गुरवे: to the guru
• गुरवे: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• तस्मै: to that (one)
• तस्मै: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• इष्ट-देव-स्वरूपिणे: to the one whose form is the chosen deity
• इष्ट-देव-स्वरूपिणे: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (इष्टदेवस्य स्वरूपः यस्य)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वाक्-अमृतम्: nectar-like speech
• वाक्-अमृतम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक) + अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (अमृततुल्या वाक्)

• हन्ति: destroys
• हन्ति: क्रिया (Verb/action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विषम्: poison
• विषम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• संसार-संज्ञकम्: called ‘saṃsāra’
• संसार-संज्ञकम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to विषम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (संसार इति संज्ञा यस्य)

Speaker

Narada (in a devotional eulogy to the Guru/ācārya within the instructional flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Ishtadeva

FAQs

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

It elevates the Guru as the living presence of one’s iṣṭadevatā and teaches that true instruction (vāk as amṛta) is the antidote to the suffering of saṃsāra.

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

By identifying the Guru with the chosen deity, it frames devotion as practiced through surrender, reverence, and faithful reception of the guru’s upadeśa, which purifies and liberates the devotee.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse underscores the sanctity and transformative power of vāk (sacred speech), aligning with Vedāṅga concerns such as śikṣā (proper recitation) and vyākaraṇa (clarity of meaning) as supports for effective spiritual teaching.