Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 7

Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

करन्यासं तत: कुर्याद् द्वादशाक्षरविद्यया । प्रणवादियकारान्तमङ्गुल्यङ्गुष्ठपर्वसु ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

kara-nyāsaṁ tataḥ kuryād dvādaśākṣara-vidyayā praṇavādi-ya-kārāntam aṅguly-aṅguṣṭha-parvasu

Translation

Then one should chant the mantra composed of twelve syllables [oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya]. Preceding each syllable by the oṁkāra, one should place the syllables of the mantra on the tips of his fingers, beginning with the index finger of the right hand and concluding with the index finger of the left. The four remaining syllables should be placed on the joints of the thumbs.

Synonyms

• kara-nyāsam: hand-nyāsa (placing on the hands)
• kara-nyāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक) + nyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘करस्य न्यासः’

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तर (thereafter)

• kuryāt: one should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• dvādaśa-akṣara-vidyayā: by the twelve-syllable vidyā (mantra)
• dvādaśa-akṣara-vidyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक) + vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘द्वादशाक्षरा विद्या’ (twelve-syllabled mantra/vidyā)

• praṇava-ādi-ya-kāra-antam: beginning with praṇava (Oṁ) and ending with ‘ya’
• praṇava-ādi-ya-kāra-antam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + ya-kāra (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of mantra/sequence): ‘प्रणवेन आदिः, यकारे अन्तः’ = beginning with Oṁ and ending with ‘ya’

• aṅguli-aṅguṣṭha-parvasu: on the joints of the fingers and thumb
• aṅguli-aṅguṣṭha-parvasu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅguli (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅguṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + parvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), बहुवचन; ‘अङ्गुल्यङ्गुष्ठयोः पर्वाणि’ = joints of fingers and thumb

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about kara-nyāsa (hand placement) in the Nārāyaṇa-kavaca?

This verse instructs that one should perform kara-nyāsa with the twelve-syllable mantra, assigning its syllables to the joints of the fingers and thumb, beginning with oṁ and ending with ‘ya’.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe mantra-nyāsa to Parīkṣit Mahārāja in Canto 6 Chapter 8?

Because the Nārāyaṇa-kavaca is presented as a devotional protective practice; Śukadeva explains the proper method (vidhi) so the listener understands how remembrance of Nārāyaṇa is invoked through disciplined mantra application.

Practical application of mantra-nyāsa in modern life according to this shloka?

Use structured, mindful repetition of a Vaiṣṇava mantra with focused attention (even if simplified), turning prayer into concentrated remembrance that strengthens steadiness and devotion.