Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

दीर्घाढ्यमूलबीजेन कुर्यादेषां षडंगकम् । तारो हृत्कार्तवीर्यार्जुनाय वर्मास्त्रठद्वयम् ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

dīrghāḍhyamūlabījena kuryādeṣāṃ ṣaḍaṃgakam | tāro hṛtkārtavīryārjunāya varmāstraṭhadvayam || 46 ||

Translation

Mit der „langen“ Wurzel‑Bīja‑Silbe soll für diese das Ṣaḍaṅga, die sechsfachen Nebenanwendungen, vollzogen werden. Dann soll man mit dem Tāra, der Praṇava (Oṁ), für Kārtavīrya Arjuna im Herzen das paarige Set anlegen: die Schutzpanzer‑Mantras (varma) und die Waffen‑Mantras (astra).

Word by Word

• dīrgha-āḍhya-mūla-bījena: with the long/extended root-seed
• dīrgha-āḍhya-mūla-bījena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक) + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + bīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘दीर्घेण आढ्यं मूलबीजम्’ (with the long/extended root-seed)

• kuryāt: should make/perform
• kuryāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• eṣām: of these
• eṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• ṣaṭ-aṃgakam: the sixfold (ṣaḍaṅga) set
• ṣaṭ-aṃgakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; द्विगु-समासः ‘षडङ्गम्’ (sixfold ancillary set)

• tāraḥ: Tāra (Oṃ)
• tāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; mantra-term ‘tāra’ (Oṃ)

• hṛt: heart
• hṛt: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, (stem form) used as first member in compound; ‘heart’

• kārtavīryārjunāya: to Kārtavīrya Arjuna
• kārtavīryārjunāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārtavīryārjuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; कर्मधारयः proper name ‘Kārtavīrya Arjuna’

• varma-astra-ṭha-dvayam: the pair ‘varma’ and ‘astra’ (with ṭha)
• varma-astra-ṭha-dvayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varman (प्रातिपदिक) + astra (प्रातिपदिक) + ṭha (अव्यय/वर्ण) + dvi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; तत्पुरुषः: ‘varma’ and ‘astra’ (protective armour & weapon-mantra) with ‘ṭha’ as syllable; dvayam = ‘pair/two’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual-mantra context, traditionally within dialogue with Sanatkumara’s lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kārtavīrya Arjuna
• Oṃ (Tāra/Praṇava)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined mantra-prayoga: empowering a mantra through ṣaḍaṅga (sixfold ancillary nyāsa) and sealing it with praṇava, indicating that protection and efficacy arise from correct Vedic-technical procedure, not mere recitation.

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

Though technical, it supports bhakti by showing how sacred sound (praṇava and bīja) is approached with reverence and method—devotion expressed as careful, rule-based worship and inner placement (heart-centered practice).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Śikṣā/phonetics (dīrgha—long sound), mantra-śāstra procedure (bīja, ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa), and protective ritual technology (kavaca/varma and astra applications).