Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

The Exposition of Nṛsiṁha Worship-Mantras, Nyāsa, Mudrās, Yantras, Kavaca, and Nṛsiṁha Gāyatrī

Devanagari script

षडङ्गानि निधायाथ मूर्ध्नि भाले च नेत्रयोः । मुखबाह्वङिघ्रसन्ध्यग्रेष्वथ कुक्षौ तथा हृदि ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

ṣaḍaṅgāni nidhāyātha mūrdhni bhāle ca netrayoḥ | mukhabāhvaṅighrasandhyagreṣvatha kukṣau tathā hṛdi || 18 ||

Translation

Dann, nachdem man die Nyāsa der sechs Glieder (ṣaḍ-aṅga) vollzogen hat, soll man sie auf den Scheitel, die Stirn und die Augen setzen; dann auf den Mund, die Arme und auf die vorderen Gelenkstellen der Füße/Knöchel; danach auf den Bauch und ebenso auf das Herz.

Word by Word

• षट्-अङ्गानि: the six limbs (nyāsa parts)
• षट्-अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः द्विगुः (षड् अङ्गानि)

• निधाय: having placed
• निधाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√धा (धातु) + ल्यप् (अव्ययीभाव/क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having placed/after placing’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• भाले: on the forehead
• भाले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• नेत्रयोः: on the two eyes
• नेत्रयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी/षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; अत्र सप्तमी (locative) ‘in/on the two eyes’

• मुख-बाहु-अङ्घ्रि-सन्ध्य-अग्रेषु: on the mouth, arms, feet, and the junction-points/tips
• मुख-बाहु-अङ्घ्रि-सन्ध्य-अग्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्धि/सन्ध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः द्वन्द्वः (मुखे, बाह्वोः, अङ्घ्र्योः, सन्ध्यग्रेषु इति समाहारः)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘then’

• कुक्षौ: in/on the belly
• कुक्षौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘also/likewise’

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/Vedāṅga-ritual context to the Sanatkumāra tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches internalization of mantra-power through nyāsa—sanctifying key bodily centers (head, senses, heart) so worship shifts from external action to embodied, disciplined upāsanā.

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

By directing the practitioner to consecrate the senses and heart, it supports bhakti as lived devotion—making perception, speech, and inner feeling fit vessels for remembrance and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical ritual application used in mantra-prayoga (nyāsa/ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa), aligning recitation with specific body-locations—an applied discipline associated with Vedic ritual science and correct procedure.