Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

कर्णादिस्वस्वस्थानेषु श्रोत्रादीनींद्रियाणि च । तथा वागादींद्रियाणि स्वस्वस्थानषु विन्यसेत् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

karṇādisvasvasthāneṣu śrotrādīnīṃdriyāṇi ca | tathā vāgādīṃdriyāṇi svasvasthānaṣu vinyaset || 15 ||

Translation

Man soll die Sinnesvermögen—beginnend mit dem Hören—in ihre eigenen Sitze einsetzen, angefangen beim Ohr; ebenso soll man die Handlungsorgane—beginnend mit der Rede—in ihre jeweiligen Plätze einsetzen.

Word by Word

• कर्ण-आदि-स्व-स्व-स्थानेषु: in their respective places such as the ear etc.
• कर्ण-आदि-स्व-स्व-स्थानेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः—‘कर्णादीनां स्वस्वस्थानेषु’ (in their respective places such as the ear etc.)

• श्रोत्र-आदीनि: (organs) beginning with the ear
• श्रोत्र-आदीनि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; ‘beginning with the ear’

• इन्द्रियाणि: sense-organs
• इन्द्रियाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• वाक्-आदीनि: (organs) beginning with speech
• वाक्-आदीनि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्/वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; ‘beginning with speech’

• इन्द्रियाणि: sense-organs
• इन्द्रियाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• स्व-स्व-स्थानेषु: in their respective places
• स्व-स्व-स्थानेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; ‘in their respective places’

• विन्यसेत्: should arrange/place
• विन्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नि√अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘to arrange/place properly’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical, Vedanga-style discipline of mental/ritual arrangement)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined inner order: by mentally assigning each sense and action-faculty to its proper seat, the practitioner prevents sensory overflow and cultivates steadiness suited for mantra, ritual precision, and meditation.

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

Bhakti becomes stable when the senses are regulated; placing hearing, speech, and other faculties in their proper functions supports attentive śravaṇa (hearing divine names), controlled kīrtana (speech), and focused worship without distraction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical, methodical practice akin to śikṣā/ritual discipline: correct “placement” (vinyāsa) of faculties mirrors the precision required in Vedic recitation and rites—control of speech and attention is treated as a practical science.