Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

त्रिशो मूलेन मूर्द्धादिपादांतं व्यापकं न्यसेत् । सकृद्व्यापय्य तारेण मंत्रन्यासं ततश्चरेत् ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

triśo mūlena mūrddhādipādāṃtaṃ vyāpakaṃ nyaset | sakṛdvyāpayya tāreṇa maṃtranyāsaṃ tataścaret || 27 ||

Translation

وبالمانترا الجذرية (مُولا-مانترا) يُجرى النْياسا الشامل من قمة الرأس إلى أطراف القدمين ثلاث مرات. ثم بعد أن يُسري على الجسد مرةً بمانترا «تارا»، يُتابَع أداء مانترا-نياسا على الترتيب.

Word by Word

• triśaḥ: thrice
• triśaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: triśas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of frequency (आवृत्तिवाचक)

• mūlena: with the root (mantra)
• mūlena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• mūrdha-ādi-pāda-antam: from head to feet (ending at the feet)
• mūrdha-ādi-pāda-antam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); adjective qualifying vyāpakam; meaning ‘ending at the feet, beginning with the head’

• vyāpakam: all-pervading/pervasive (one)
• vyāpakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyāpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• nyaset: should place
• nyaset: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-as (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sakṛt: once
• sakṛt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sakṛt (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vyāpayya: having spread
• vyāpayya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vy-āp (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having pervaded/spread’

• tāreṇa: with/using the ‘tārā’ (mantra)
• tāreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• mantra-nyāsam: mantra-installation (nyāsa)
• mantra-nyāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + nyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• caret: should perform/practice
• caret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Tara (mantra)

FAQs

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

It teaches purification and sanctification of the practitioner’s entire body through vyāpaka-nyāsa, making the body a fit locus for mantra-japa and further ritual acts.

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

By prescribing disciplined mantra-nyāsa before practice, it frames devotion as embodied worship—preparing oneself as an instrument for focused remembrance and reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual procedure (prayoga)—a technical method of nyāsa and mantra-vyāpana, emphasizing sequence, repetition count, and correct mantra-application.