Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

चतुर्भिर्नयनं तद्वदस्त्रमेकेन कीर्तितम् । दृक्श्रोत्रनासाद्वितये जिह्वाहृन्नाभिगुह्यके ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

caturbhirnayanaṃ tadvadastramekena kīrtitam | dṛkśrotranāsādvitaye jihvāhṛnnābhiguhyake || 44 ||

Translation

Es heißt, das Auge werde durch vier (Zeichen/Einheiten) dargestellt; ebenso wird das astra, die Waffe, durch eine einzige bezeichnet. Dies ist auf die Wahrnehmungsorgane—Auge, Ohr und die beiden Nasenlöcher—sowie auf Zunge, Herz, Nabel und das geheime Organ zu beziehen.

Word by Word

• चतुर्भिः: with four (syllables)
• चतुर्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; करण

• नयनम्: the eyes/seeing (nayana)
• नयनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: उपमानार्थक अव्यय (likewise/in the same way)

• अस्त्रम्: the weapon-mantra (astra)
• अस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• एकेन: with one (syllable)
• एकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करण

• कीर्तितम्: is declared/mentioned
• कीर्तितम्: Kriya (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्तित (कृदन्त; √कीर्त्/√कीर् ‘to mention’)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (अस्त्रम् इत्यस्य विधानम्)

• दृक्-श्रोत्र-नासा-द्वितये: in the pair(s) of eyes, ears, and nose
• दृक्-श्रोत्र-नासा-द्वितये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृक् (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रोत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + नासा (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वितय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location)

• जिह्वा-हृत्-नाभि-गुह्यके: in the tongue, heart, navel, and genital region
• जिह्वा-हृत्-नाभि-गुह्यके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक) + हृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + नाभि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुह्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective) अधिकरण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with 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 encodes a technical mapping between mantra/ritual counts and bodily loci, implying that disciplined practice sanctifies the senses and vital centers, turning perception and embodiment into a regulated spiritual instrument.

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

By prescribing orderly placement/recognition of sacred measures in the sense-organs and inner centers, it supports bhakti as embodied devotion—training the senses to become fit vessels for remembrance and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A Shiksha/ritual-technical style of enumeration used in nyasa-like applications—assigning counts or markers (e.g., ‘four’, ‘one’) to specific organs for structured recitation and ritual procedure.