Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 131

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

षट्षष्ठाष्टेषु वह्न्यर्णैर्हृदयाद्यंगकल्पनम् । मूर्ध्नि भाले दृशोः श्रोत्रे गंडयुग्मे सनासिके ॥ १३१ ॥

Transliteration

ṣaṭṣaṣṭhāṣṭeṣu vahnyarṇairhṛdayādyaṃgakalpanam | mūrdhni bhāle dṛśoḥ śrotre gaṃḍayugme sanāsike || 131 ||

Translation

Mit den Feuersilben (vahni-arṇa) soll man die Glieder-Setzung (aṅga-kalpanā/nyāsa) vom Herzen an vollziehen, nach den Gruppen sechs, sechs und acht—auf Scheitel, Stirn, beide Augen, Ohren, die beiden Wangen und auch die Nase.

Word by Word

• ṣaṭ-ṣaṣṭi-aṣṭeṣu: in (the sets of) six, sixty, and eight
• ṣaṭ-ṣaṣṭi-aṣṭeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + ṣaṣṭi (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + aṣṭa (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.)/Napुंसakaliṅga (n.) (numeral compound used substantively), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/7th), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• vahni-arṇaiḥ: with fire-letters (vahni-syllables)
• vahni-arṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.)/Napुंसakaliṅga (n.) (context: ‘letters’), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• hṛdaya-ādi-aṅga-kalpanam: the placement/visualization of limbs beginning with the heart
• hṛdaya-ādi-aṅga-kalpanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; nominal predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + kalpana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (n.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• mūrdhni: on the head/crown
• mūrdhni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/7th), Ekavacana (Singular)

• bhāle: on the forehead
• bhāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (n.)/Puṃliṅga (m.) (usage varies), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/7th), Ekavacana (Singular)

• dṛśoḥ: of the two eyes
• dṛśoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.) (dual form), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Dvivacana (Dual)

• śrotre: in/on the ear
• śrotre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrotra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (n.), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/7th), Ekavacana (Singular)

• gaṇḍa-yugme: on the pair of cheeks
• gaṇḍa-yugme: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + yugma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (n.), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/7th), Ekavacana (Singular)

• sa-nāsike: on/with the nose
• sa-nāsike: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (सह/प्रातिपदिक) + nāsikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/7th), Ekavacana (Singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical Vedāṅga/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

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

It teaches a disciplined method of internalizing mantra-power through nyāsa—sanctifying key bodily loci (heart, head, eyes, ears, cheeks, nose) so the practitioner’s body becomes a fit vessel for Vedic/āgamic recitation and contemplation.

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

Though technical, the nyāsa described supports bhakti by preparing the senses and inner being for focused remembrance and worship—purifying perception (eyes/ears) and centering devotion in the heart before mantra-japa or pūjā.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual-phonetics and mantra-prayoga: using specific syllable-sets (six-six-eight) and assigning them to prescribed body-points (aṅga-kalpanā/nyāsa), a technical procedure aligned with śikṣā (phonetic discipline) and kalpa (ritual method).