Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 69

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

प्राणानायम्य संकल्प्य न्यासान्पूर्वोदितांश्चरेत् । षट्कोणं रचयेद्भूमौ रक्तचंदनतंडुलैः ॥ ६९ ॥

Transliteration

prāṇānāyamya saṃkalpya nyāsānpūrvoditāṃścaret | ṣaṭkoṇaṃ racayedbhūmau raktacaṃdanataṃḍulaiḥ || 69 ||

Translation

Nachdem man den Atem durch Prāṇāyāma geregelt und den Saṅkalpa (rituelle Absicht) gefasst hat, vollziehe man die zuvor gelehrten Nyāsa; dann zeichne man auf dem Boden das Ṣaṭkoṇa (Sechs-Winkel-Zeichen) mit Reiskörnern, die mit rotem Sandelholz gefärbt sind.

Word by Word

• प्राणान्: the breaths
• प्राणान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचनम्

• आयम्य: having controlled
• आयम्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-यम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), 'having restrained/controlled'

• संकल्प्य: having resolved
• संकल्प्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), 'having resolved/intended'

• न्यासान्: the ritual placements (nyāsas)
• न्यासान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचनम्

• पूर्वोदितान्: previously stated
• पूर्वोदितान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व + उदित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः (पूर्वं उदिताः)

• चरेत्: should perform
• चरेत्: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• षट्कोणम्: a hexagon
• षट्कोणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः (षड्-कोणः)

• रचयेत्: should draw/construct
• रचयेत्: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्

• रक्तचन्दनतण्डुलैः: with rice grains (mixed) with red sandalwood
• रक्तचन्दनतण्डुलैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त + चन्दन + तण्डुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (रक्तचन्दनेन युक्ताः तण्डुलाः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a ritual-technical exposition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes inner purification (prāṇāyāma), correct intention (saṅkalpa), and mantra-installation (nyāsa) as prerequisites before external ritual acts like drawing a mandala—showing that ritual efficacy begins with disciplined consciousness.

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

Though technical, it supports bhakti by prescribing a reverent, orderly approach to worship: intention, sanctification of the body through nyāsa, and creating a sacred space (ṣaṭkoṇa) for deity-centered practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual science—procedural discipline (saṅkalpa/nyāsa), breath regulation (yogic-ritual prāṇāyāma), and mandala/yantra construction—typical of Narada Purana’s Book 1.3 technical (Vedāṅga-aligned) material.