Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 163

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

Devanagari script

रामाग्निवेदवेदाब्धेर्नेत्रार्णैरंगकल्पनम् । मूलेन व्यापकं कृत्वा मनुना पुटितानथ ॥ १६३ ॥

Transliteration

rāmāgnivedavedābdhernetrārṇairaṃgakalpanam | mūlena vyāpakaṃ kṛtvā manunā puṭitānatha || 163 ||

Translation

Dann ordnete er mithilfe der durch den Code „Rāma–Agni–Veda–Veda–Abdhi“ bezeichneten Silben und der „Augen-Buchstaben“ (netrārṇa) die Hilfsglieder (aṅga) des Mantras. Nachdem er es durch das Wurzelmantra (mūla) allgegenwärtig gemacht hatte, versiegelte und ermächtigte er es mit der vorgeschriebenen Manu-Formel.

Word by Word

• राम-अग्नि-वेद-वेद-अब्धेः: of (the set) ‘rāma-agni-veda-veda-abdhi’ (mantric code)
• राम-अग्नि-वेद-वेद-अब्धेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + अब्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (मन्त्राङ्ग-निर्देशे)

• नेत्र-अर्णैः: with the ‘eye’ syllables
• नेत्र-अर्णैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘नेत्राणि अर्णानि’ = eye-syllables)

• अङ्ग-कल्पनम्: arrangement of the limbs (aṅga-nyāsa scheme)
• अङ्ग-कल्पनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + कल्पन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘अङ्गस्य कल्पनम्’)

• मूलेन: with the root (mūla-mantra)
• मूलेन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), एकवचन

• व्यापकम्: all-pervading (as a covering)
• व्यापकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यापक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (कृत्वा-पूर्वक कर्म)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययभाव/gerund; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (‘having done/made’)

• मनुना: with the mantra (manu)
• मनुना: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), एकवचन

• पुटितान्: enclosed/covered (them)
• पुटितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुटित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; पुट्/पुटि-धात्वर्थ ‘to enclose/cover’ + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/transition particle (‘then/now’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It presents a technical principle of mantra-sādhana: a mantra becomes effective when its ‘limbs’ (aṅgas) are correctly arranged, pervaded by the root-mantra (mūla), and ritually empowered (puṭīkaraṇa) through the proper formula (manu).

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

Though technical, it supports bhakti by showing that devotional worship and japa are strengthened when performed with correct mantra-vidhi—so the devotee’s remembrance and offering become disciplined and potent rather than casual.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-śāstra technique used alongside Vedanga-style precision: coded letter/number mapping (bhūta-saṅkhyā/saṅketa), selection of specific syllables (netrārṇa), and procedural steps for mantra formation and ritual empowerment.