Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 80

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

नारायणं चक्रमतस्तत्त्वानि द्वादशैव तु । मूलार्णहृत्परायाद्यमात्मने हृदयांतिमम् ॥ ८० ॥

Transliteration

nārāyaṇaṃ cakramatastattvāni dvādaśaiva tu | mūlārṇahṛtparāyādyamātmane hṛdayāṃtimam || 80 ||

Translation

Für Nārāyaṇa, den Herrn, der das Diskusrad (cakra) trägt, gibt es wahrlich zwölf Prinzipien (tattva). Vom Wurzelsilbenlaut (mūla-arṇa) an bis zur innersten Essenz des Herzens hin sind sie auf den Ātman, das Selbst, ausgerichtet.

Word by Word

• nārāyaṇam: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• cakramataḥ: from the discus-bearer (cakra-holder)
• cakramataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cakra-mat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); -matup (मतुप्) possessive adjective: 'having a discus'; used as 'from/than the discus-bearer' or 'from the one with cakra' (contextual)

• tattvāni: principles/tattvas
• tattvāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dvādaśa: twelve
• dvādaśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: Numeral adjective (संख्यावाचक), Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying tattvāni

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• tu: but/and
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• mūla-arṇa-hṛt-parāya-ādyam: beginning with the mūla-syllable and (going) up to the heart-region
• mūla-arṇa-hṛt-parāya-ādyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + hṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + parāya (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); multi-member tatpuruṣa indicating sequence 'beginning with mūla-arṇa ... up to hṛt-parāya' (context: series of syllables/placements)

• ātmane: for the self/for Ātman
• ātmane: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• hṛdaya-antimam: ending at the heart
• hṛdaya-antimam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक) + antima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: hṛdaye antimam (ending at the heart)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It frames Nārāyaṇa-upāsanā as a structured inner ascent: from the mantra’s root-syllable (bīja) through graded principles (tattvas) to realization centered in the heart, oriented toward the Self.

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

Bhakti here is disciplined worship: devotion to Nārāyaṇa (the cakra-bearing Lord) expressed through mantra-japa and inward contemplation, bringing the devotee from sound (mūlārṇa) to heartfelt absorption (hṛdaya).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-vidyā and phonetic/semantic discipline—key to Śikṣā (sound/recitation) and Vyākaraṇa/Nirukta-style attention to syllables and meaning—applied to meditation on bīja, tattva, and heart-centered upāsanā.