Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Hayagrīva-pūjā-vyākhyāna

Worship Procedure and Mantra-Siddhi of Hayagrīva

Devanagari script

ससाध्यतारं विलसत्कर्णिकं च सुवर्णकैः । विलसत्केसरं मंत्राक्षरद्वंद्वाष्टपत्रकम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

sasādhyatāraṃ vilasatkarṇikaṃ ca suvarṇakaiḥ | vilasatkesaraṃ maṃtrākṣaradvaṃdvāṣṭapatrakam || 26 ||

Translation

Er soll einen strahlenden Lotos vergegenwärtigen: sein leuchtender Blütenkern ist mit der Sādhyatārā (dem zielerfüllenden Stern) gezeichnet, seine goldenen Fäden glänzen, und seine acht Blätter sind aus paarigen Silben des Mantras gebildet.

Word by Word

• स: that (object)
• स: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• साध्यतारम्: having the sādhya-star / with the sādhya-tārā
• साध्यतारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध्य-तार (प्रातिपदिक; साध्य + तारा)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (साध्यस्य तारा/तारकः)

• विलसत्: shining
• विलसत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विलस् (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकृदन्त/शतृ), used as adjective; agreeing with कर्णिकम् (neuter acc. sg.)

• कर्णिकम्: pericarp (of a lotus)
• कर्णिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• सुवर्णकैः: with gold pieces/with golden (ornaments)
• सुवर्णकैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्णक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• विलसत्: shining
• विलसत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विलस् (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), used as adjective; agreeing with केसरम् (neuter acc. sg.)

• केसरम्: filaments/stamens
• केसरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• मन्त्राक्षरद्वन्द्वाष्टपत्रकम्: an eight-petalled (lotus/diagram) with paired mantra-syllables
• मन्त्राक्षरद्वन्द्वाष्टपत्रकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र-अक्षर-द्वन्द्व-अष्ट-पत्रक (प्रातिपदिक; मन्त्र + अक्षर + द्वन्द्व + अष्ट + पत्रक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः: (मन्त्राक्षराणां द्वन्द्वम्) + (अष्टपत्रकम्) = तत्पुरुषः

Speaker

Narada (teaching, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined visualization (dhyāna) where the mantra is not only recited but also mentally structured as a luminous lotus, making worship precise, focused, and effective.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as attentive, reverent contemplation—adoration through mantra and inner form (the lotus), so devotion becomes steady rather than merely emotional.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical ritual method: mantra-akṣara arrangement (nyāsa-like placement) and a yantra-style visualization schema, aligning recitation with structured meditative geometry.