Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa

Devanagari script

ततस्तु साधकश्रेष्टः स्तंभयेच्छंखमुद्रया । आग्नेयादिषु कोणेषु हृदाद्यंगचतुष्टयम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

tatastu sādhakaśreṣṭaḥ staṃbhayecchaṃkhamudrayā | āgneyādiṣu koṇeṣu hṛdādyaṃgacatuṣṭayam || 8 ||

Translation

Dann soll der vortrefflichste Übende mittels der Muschel-Mudrā (Śaṅkha) die vier Hilfsglieder des Mantras, beginnend mit dem Herz-Glied (Hṛd), in den Ecken ab dem Südosten des Agni und den übrigen festsetzen und stillstellen.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), क्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (thereafter)

• तु: indeed/then
• तु: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/विरोधसूचक (particle)

• साधक-श्रेष्ठः: the best practitioner
• साधक-श्रेष्ठः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः—‘श्रेष्ठः साधकः’

• स्तम्भयेत्: should immobilize/stop
• स्तम्भयेत्: क्रिया (क्रियापद)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तम्भ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• शंख-मुद्रया: with the conch mudrā
• शंख-मुद्रया: करण (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंख + मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘शंखस्य मुद्रा’ (conch-gesture)

• आग्नेय-आदिषु: in (the directions) beginning with the southeast
• आग्नेय-आदिषु: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आग्नेय + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) बहुवचनम्, सप्तमी (Locative/7th); तत्पुरुषः—‘आग्नेयः आदिः येषाम्’ (starting with the southeast)

• कोणेषु: in the corners
• कोणेषु: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचनम्

• हृदादि-अङ्ग-चतुष्टयम्: the set of four limbs starting with hṛd
• हृदादि-अङ्ग-चतुष्टयम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् + आदि + अङ्ग + चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘हृदादीनि अङ्गानि (यस्य) चतुष्टयम्’ (set of four limbs starting with hṛd)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Agni (directional deity/Agni corner)
• Śaṅkha (Conch mudrā)

FAQs

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

It teaches ritual steadiness: the practitioner ‘stabilizes’ the mantra-auxiliaries (aṅgas) with a mudrā, establishing control, protection, and focused continuity of worship before proceeding further.

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

Bhakti here is disciplined and methodical—devotion is supported by correct ritual acts (mudrā and directional placement), which help keep the mind steady and the worship space safeguarded for sustained remembrance of the deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Directional ritual application (dik/koṇa placement) and technical mantra procedure (aṅga-catuṣṭaya, mudrā-based stambhana) reflect a Vedāṅga-like emphasis on precise ritual performance and liturgical method.