Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

Hanumān-mantra-kathana: Mantra-bheda, Nyāsa, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

उपर्यष्टच्छदं कृत्वा पत्रेषु कवचं लिखेत् । तद्बहिर्दंहमालिख्य तद्बहिश्चतुरस्रकम् ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

uparyaṣṭacchadaṃ kṛtvā patreṣu kavacaṃ likhet | tadbahirdaṃhamālikhya tadbahiścaturasrakam || 64 ||

Translation

بعدَ صنعِ غطاءٍ علويٍّ من ثماني طبقات، يُكتَبُ «الكَفَچا» (kavaca) درعُ الحماية على الأوراق؛ ثم يُرسَمُ خارجَهُ طَوقٌ، وخارجَ الطوقِ يُرسَمُ مُربَّعٌ.

Word by Word

• उपरि: above/on top
• उपरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय (adverb/preposition)

• अष्ट-छदम्: an eight-petalled/ eight-covered (figure)
• अष्ट-छदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + छद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगुसमास (अष्ट छदाः यस्य तत्/अष्टछदं)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), “having made/done”

• पत्रेषु: on the petals/leaves
• पत्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कवचम्: the protective formula/armor (kavaca)
• कवचम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लिखेत्: should write/draw
• लिखेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लिख् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तत्: that (it)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (outside)

• दंहम्: a (specific) outline/mark (daṃha)
• दंहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (पाठभेद/अर्थानुसार), द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; (यन्त्र-रेखाविशेष/आलेख्य-आकृति)

• आलिख्य: having drawn
• आलिख्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√लिख् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), “having drawn”

• तत्: that (it)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक

• चतुरस्रकम्: a square (figure)
• चतुरस्रकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुरस्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching a technical ritual procedure in the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It prescribes a precise protective layout—kavaca text enclosed by successive boundaries—showing that mantric power is supported by orderly ritual design (nyāsa/lekhanā and geometric enclosure) to safeguard and stabilize the intended spiritual effect.

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

While primarily technical, it supports bhakti practice by protecting the sādhaka’s worship through a kavaca—devotional life is preserved and made steady when one follows disciplined procedures that honor the mantra and its sacred containment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual-technical know-how: writing mantras (lekhanā), arranging protective enclosures (circle and square), and following measured procedure—skills aligned with Vedanga-style precision used in mantra-sādhana and vrata-related rites.