Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 174

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

नाभावाधारकेऽथापि पादसंधिषु च क्रमात् । मन्त्राक्षराणि क्रमशो न्यसेत्सप्तदशापि च ॥ १७४ ॥

Transliteration

nābhāvādhārake'thāpi pādasaṃdhiṣu ca kramāt | mantrākṣarāṇi kramaśo nyasetsaptadaśāpi ca || 174 ||

Translation

Dann soll man am Nabel (dem Ādhāra, der Stütze) und ebenso der Reihe nach an den Gelenkstellen der Füße die Silben des Mantras nacheinander niederlegen—alle siebzehn insgesamt.

Word by Word

• नाभौ: in the navel
• नाभौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• आधारके: in the support/base (region)
• आधारके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आधारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/next)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• पाद-सन्धिषु: in the joints of the feet
• पाद-सन्धिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पादयोः सन्धयः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• क्रमात्: in order
• क्रमात्: Kriyavisheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial), अर्थे—‘क्रमेण’

• मन्त्र-अक्षराणि: the mantra-syllables
• मन्त्र-अक्षराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मन्त्रस्य अक्षराणि)

• क्रमशः: sequentially
• क्रमशः: Kriyavisheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रमशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (step by step)

• न्यसेत्: should place/assign
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धात्वर्थः—‘स्थापयेत्/न्यस्येत्’

• सप्तदश: seventeen
• सप्तदश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तदश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; द्वितीया-बहुवचनार्थे (as numeral: seventeen)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-कार (also/even)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches mantra-nyāsa: sanctifying and “installing” the mantra within the practitioner’s body so the ritual is internalized, ordered, and spiritually efficacious.

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

By prescribing disciplined mantra-placement, it supports bhakti as embodied practice—devotion expressed through careful mantra-japa and ritualized remembrance, not merely emotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā and mantra-prayoga are implied: correct sequencing (krama) of akṣaras and their nyāsa-locations, reflecting technical precision in recitation and ritual application.