Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

सर्वेषु मंत्रवर्येषु श्रेष्ठं वैष्णवमुच्यते । गाणपत्येषु सौरेषु शाक्तशैवेष्वभीष्टदम् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

sarveṣu maṃtravaryeṣu śreṣṭhaṃ vaiṣṇavamucyate | gāṇapatyeṣu saureṣu śāktaśaiveṣvabhīṣṭadam || 2 ||

Translation

在一切殊胜真言之中，毗湿奴派（Vaiṣṇava）真言被宣称为最上；并且在伽那钵底耶、苏利耶、夏克塔与湿婆诸系真言之中，它亦是能赐所愿之果者。

Word by Word

• सर्वेषु: in all
• सर्वेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (in all)

• मन्त्रवर्येषु: among the excellent mantras
• मन्त्रवर्येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (वर्यः मन्त्रः = excellent mantras)

• श्रेष्ठम्: the best
• श्रेष्ठम्: Vidhaya (विधेय/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative)

• वैष्णवम्: the Vaiṣṇava (mantra/tradition)
• वैष्णवम्: Karta (कर्ता/Grammatical subject in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उच्यते इति कर्मणि वाक्ये कर्तृस्थानी (that which is called)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• गाणपत्येषु: among the Gāṇapatya (mantras)
• गाणपत्येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाणपत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; गणपतिसम्बन्धि

• सौरेषु: among the Saura (mantras)
• सौरेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; सूर्यसम्बन्धि

• शाक्तशैवेषु: among the Śākta and Śaiva (mantras)
• शाक्तशैवेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक्त + शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (Śākta and Śaiva)

• अभीष्टदम्: granting the desired (boon)
• अभीष्टदम्: Vidhaya (विधेय/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभीष्ट + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (अभीष्टं ददाति = bestower of desired results)

Speaker

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

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Ganesha
• Surya
• Shakti (Devi)
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It asserts the primacy of Vaiṣṇava mantra-practice as the highest among mantras, presenting devotion to Viṣṇu as the most effective and spiritually elevated means for attaining both worldly and transcendent aims.

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

By ranking the Vaiṣṇava mantra as “best,” the verse frames Viṣṇu-centered bhakti and japa as a superior devotional discipline, implying that surrender and remembrance of Viṣṇu yields the most complete fulfillment of aims.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-śāstra as a technical discipline—classifying mantras by deity-tradition and emphasizing phala (result-oriented application), a common practical approach in Vedic-ritual and auxiliary sciences contexts.