Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

सर्वमन्त्रेण सर्वांगे कृत्वा व्यापकमादृतः । सर्वेष्टसिद्धये ध्यायेत्कार्तवीर्यं जनेश्वरम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

sarvamantreṇa sarvāṃge kṛtvā vyāpakamādṛtaḥ | sarveṣṭasiddhaye dhyāyetkārtavīryaṃ janeśvaram || 16 ||

Translation

Nachdem man ehrfürchtig den ganzen Leib mit dem „universalen Mantra“ durchdrungen hat, soll man Kārtavīrya, den Herrn unter den Menschen, zur Erlangung aller gewünschten Vollkommenheiten meditieren.

Word by Word

• सर्वमन्त्रेण: with the entire mantra
• सर्वमन्त्रेण: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; instrumental singular; ‘with the whole mantra’

• सर्वाङ्गे: on the whole body
• सर्वाङ्गे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular; ‘on the whole body’

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); ‘having done’

• व्यापकम्: the all-pervading (nyāsa)
• व्यापकम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यापक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular; object of कृत्वा (i.e., ‘having done the vyāpaka (nyāsa)’)

• आदृतः: being attentive
• आदृतः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + दृ (धातु) → आदृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘being attentive/respectful’ (qualifies implied practitioner)

• सर्वेष्टसिद्धये: for the attainment of all desired goals
• सर्वेष्टसिद्धये: सम्प्रदान (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + इष्ट + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; dative singular; ‘for the accomplishment of all desired (results)’

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate
• ध्यायेत्: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should meditate’

• कार्तवीर्यम्: Kārtavīrya (Kartavirya)
• कार्तवीर्यम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तवीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular; object of ध्यायेत्

• जनेश्वरम्: lord of people
• जनेश्वरम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular; apposition to कार्तवीर्यम्

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual context within Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kārtavīrya (Kārtavīryārjuna)

FAQs

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

It presents a disciplined mantra-and-meditation procedure: first establishing mantra-pervasion through the whole body (a nyāsa-like inner consecration), then focusing the mind in dhyāna on a chosen revered figure to secure intended spiritual and worldly attainments.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent, steady contemplation (dhyāna) after sanctifying oneself with mantra; devotion is not merely emotion but a practiced, embodied remembrance that culminates in focused worshipful meditation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied mantra-vidhi used in technical practice—mantra placement/pervasion (vyāpaka, akin to nyāsa) and dhyāna as a structured sādhanā—typical of the Purana’s instructional, Vedanga-adjacent ritual methodology.