Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

The Exposition of Nṛsiṁha Worship-Mantras, Nyāsa, Mudrās, Yantras, Kavaca, and Nṛsiṁha Gāyatrī

Devanagari script

दक्षान्पदोस्तले कट्यां मेढ्रोर्वोजानुजङ्घयोः । गुल्फे पादकराङ्गुल्योः सर्वसन्धिषु रोमसु ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

dakṣānpadostale kaṭyāṃ meḍhrorvojānujaṅghayoḥ | gulphe pādakarāṅgulyoḥ sarvasandhiṣu romasu || 23 ||

Translation

يُوضَعُ ما يبدأ بحرف «دا» من المقاطع على باطن القدمين؛ ثم على الوركين، والأعضاء التناسلية، والفخذين، والركبتين، والساقين؛ وعلى الكاحلين؛ وعلى أصابع القدمين واليدين؛ وعلى جميع المفاصل؛ وعلى شعر الجسد أيضًا.

Word by Word

• दक्षान्: right-side (ones)
• दक्षान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (varṇān इत्यादि कर्मपदस्य)

• पदोः: of the two feet
• पदोः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• तले: on the sole
• तले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• कट्याम्: on the waist
• कट्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• मेढ्रोः: of the genital (organ)
• मेढ्रोः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेढ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• ऊरु-जानु-जङ्घयोः: of the thighs, knees, and shanks (i.e., on them)
• ऊरु-जानु-जङ्घयोः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक) + जानु (प्रातिपदिक) + जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वः (ऊरु-जानु-जङ्घाः)

• गुल्फे: on the ankle
• गुल्फे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुल्फ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पाद-कर-अङ्गुल्योः: of the toes and fingers
• पाद-कर-अङ्गुल्योः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वः (पादाङ्गुल्यः च कराङ्गुल्यः च)

• सर्व-सन्धिषु: in all the joints
• सर्व-सन्धिषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वे सन्धयः)

• रोमसु: on the hairs (hair-pores)
• रोमसु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the technical procedure of nyasa)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches nyāsa—ritually ‘installing’ mantra-syllables on the body—so the practitioner’s limbs become consecrated supports for mantra-japa and worship, aligning body and mind with sacred sound.

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

By prescribing bodily sanctification before practice, it supports disciplined devotional worship: the devotee prepares the body as an instrument of reverence, making japa and pūjā more focused and sattvic.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical ritual method used in mantra-śāstra (linked to śikṣā/pronunciation and prayoga/application): mapping akṣaras to specific body locations as part of formal sādhanā procedure.