Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

ताराद्यानथ शेषार्णान्मस्तके च ललाटके । भ्रुवोः श्रुत्योस्तथैवाक्ष्णोर्नसि वक्त्रे गलेंऽसके ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

tārādyānatha śeṣārṇānmastake ca lalāṭake | bhruvoḥ śrutyostathaivākṣṇornasi vaktre galeṃ'sake || 15 ||

Translation

ثم ابتداءً بالمقطع «تارا» وما يتلوه من المقاطع الباقية، فليضعها على الرأس والجبهة؛ وكذلك على الحاجبين، والأذنين، والعينين، والأنف، والوجه، وعلى الحلق ومنطقة الكتفين.

Word by Word

• ताराद्यान्: (syllables) beginning with tārā
• ताराद्यान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारा + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; accusative plural; ‘the (syllables) beginning with tārā’

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle: then/next)

• शेषार्णान्: the remaining syllables
• शेषार्णान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; accusative plural; ‘remaining syllables’

• मस्तके: on the head
• मस्तके: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction ‘and’)

• ललाटके: on the forehead
• ललाटके: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललाटक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular

• भ्रुवोः: on the two eyebrows
• भ्रुवोः: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी विभक्ति, द्विवचन; genitive/locative dual; here locative sense ‘on the two eyebrows’

• श्रुत्योः: in the two ears
• श्रुत्योः: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी विभक्ति, द्विवचन; here locative sense ‘in/on the two ears’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: likewise)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle: indeed/just)

• अक्ष्णोः: in the two eyes
• अक्ष्णोः: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी विभक्ति, द्विवचन; here locative sense ‘in the two eyes’

• नसि: in the nose
• नसि: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासिका/नस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular; ‘in the nose’

• वक्त्रे: in the mouth/face
• वक्त्रे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular

• गले: in the throat
• गले: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular

• अंसके: on the shoulder
• अंसके: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंसक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular; ‘on the shoulder’

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within Vedanga/technical context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It describes a disciplined, body-based placement of sacred syllables (a nyāsa-like method), treating the body as a ritual field so mantra-sound is internalized and made contemplative rather than merely recited.

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

By prescribing reverent placement of mantra-syllables on the limbs, it supports focused remembrance and sanctification of the practitioner’s senses—an aid to steady devotion through embodied attention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Śikṣā (phonetics/recitation discipline) and mantra-procedure: the ordered use of varṇas (phonemes) and their ritual application (nyāsa) for correct, effective practice.