Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 187

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

ज्ञानेंद्रियेषु श्रोत्रादिष्वथ चित्ते च विन्यसेत् । अक्षराणि क्रमाद्बिन्दुयुतान्यन्यत्तु पूर्ववत् ॥ १८७ ॥

Transliteration

jñāneṃdriyeṣu śrotrādiṣvatha citte ca vinyaset | akṣarāṇi kramādbinduyutānyanyattu pūrvavat || 187 ||

Translation

Man soll Nyāsa vollziehen, indem man die Silben der Reihe nach auf die Wahrnehmungsorgane—beginnend mit dem Ohr—und auch auf den Geist setzt; die Buchstaben werden nacheinander zusammen mit dem Bindu aufgetragen, das Übrige geschieht wie zuvor beschrieben.

Word by Word

• ज्ञान-इन्द्रियेषु: in the sense-organs of knowledge
• ज्ञान-इन्द्रियेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान-इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक; ज्ञान + इन्द्रिय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (ज्ञानस्य इन्द्रियाणि)

• श्रोत्र-आदिषु: in (the organs) beginning with the ear
• श्रोत्र-आदिषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्र-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; श्रोत्र + आदि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (श्रोत्रं आदिः येषां तेषु)

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपादक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थक (then/now)

• चित्ते: in the mind
• चित्ते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• विन्यसेत्: should place/arrange
• विन्यसेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अक्षराणि: letters/syllables
• अक्षराणि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगवत्; पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययार्थ (ablatival adverb: क्रमात् = in order/ क्रमशः)

• बिन्दु-युतानि: joined with a bindu (nasal dot)
• बिन्दु-युतानि: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बिन्दु-युत (प्रातिपदिक; बिन्दु + युत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (अक्षराणि)

• अन्यत्: the rest/other (letters)
• अन्यत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र अवशिष्टार्थे (the rest/other)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपादक (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुल्यक्रियाविशेषण (as before)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches internalization of mantra through nyāsa—sanctifying the senses and mind so perception and thought become aligned with sacred sound, aiding concentration and purification.

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

By directing mantra into the senses and mind, it supports steady remembrance and attentive hearing/recitation—practices that stabilize devotion and keep awareness oriented toward the chosen deity and mantra.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics) and mantra-vidhi are implied: the verse specifies ordered placement of akṣaras and the use of bindu (anusvāra), emphasizing precise sound-units and correct procedural sequencing.