Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 187

Hanumān-mantra-kathana: Mantra-bheda, Nyāsa, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

लिखेद्वसुदलं पद्मं साध्याख्यायुतकर्णिकम् । दलेऽष्टकोणमालिख्य मालामन्त्रेण वेष्टयेत् ॥ १८७ ॥

Transliteration

likhedvasudalaṃ padmaṃ sādhyākhyāyutakarṇikam | dale'ṣṭakoṇamālikhya mālāmantreṇa veṣṭayet || 187 ||

Translation

Man zeichne einen Lotus mit acht Blättern und schreibe in seine Mitte den Namen des Sādhya, des erstrebten Zieles. Auf jedes Blatt zeichne man ein Achteck und umwinde es sodann mit dem Mālā-Mantra, dem Girlanden-Mantra.

Word by Word

• लिखेत्: should draw
• लिखेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• वसु-दलम्: eight-petalled
• वसु-दलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक) + दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (संख्यावाची) — ‘वसु’ = 8, ‘अष्टदलम्’

• पद्मम्: lotus (diagram)
• पद्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• साध्य-आख्या-आयुत-कर्णिकम्: having a central pericarp marked/associated with the name ‘Sādhya’
• साध्य-आख्या-आयुत-कर्णिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुत (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् पद्मम् प्रति; अर्थः—‘साध्याख्यया आयुता (युक्ता) कर्णिका यस्य’ (center furnished with the name ‘Sādhya’)

• दले: in/on a petal
• दले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• अष्ट-कोणम्: an octagon
• अष्ट-कोणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—‘अष्टकोणः’ (octagon)

• आलिख्य: having drawn
• आलिख्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + लिख् (धातु) → आलिख्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालक्रिया

• माला-मन्त्रेण: with the Mālā-mantra
• माला-मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माला (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘मालायाः मन्त्रः’

• वेष्टयेत्: should encircle / wrap
• वेष्टयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches a precise upāsanā-method: the sādhaka externalizes the intended spiritual or worldly aim (sādhya) into a regulated yantra-form (eight-petalled lotus) and empowers it through mantra-encirclement, indicating disciplined, mantra-guided concentration.

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

While technical, it supports bhakti-upāsanā by giving a structured way to focus the mind on the chosen deity/aim; the mālā-mantra acts as a devotional “protective and enclosing” recitation that steadies remembrance and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical ritual knowledge aligned with Vedāṅga-style precision—diagrammatic inscription (lekhana), geometric placement (aṣṭakoṇa), and mantra application (mālā-mantra) as part of correct procedural vidhi.