Shloka 21

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Aṣṭākṣarī Maṇḍala-Pūjā and Nyāsa

Devanagari script

फकारांतं समुद्दिष्टं सर्वविघ्नहरं शुभम् । तत्रार्कचंद्रवह्नीयनां मंडलानि विचिंतयेत् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

phakārāṃtaṃ samuddiṣṭaṃ sarvavighnaharaṃ śubham | tatrārkacaṃdravahnīyanāṃ maṃḍalāni viciṃtayet || 21 ||

Translation

Die Silbe, die auf „pha“ endet, wird als glückverheißend und als Vertilger aller Hindernisse verkündet. Auf ihr soll man die kreisförmigen Maṇḍalas von Sonne, Mond und Feuer betrachten.

Word by Word

• फकारान्तम्: (that which is) ending in ‘pha’
• फकारान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फकारान्त (प्रातिपदिक; फकार + अन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘फकारे अन्तः यस्य’ (ending with the syllable pha)

• समुद्दिष्टम्: declared, indicated
• समुद्दिष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उद्-√दिश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘निर्दिष्टम्/उक्तम्’ (having been indicated/declared)

• सर्वविघ्नहरम्: remover of all obstacles
• सर्वविघ्नहरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वविघ्नहर (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + विघ्न + हर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘सर्वान् विघ्नान् हरति’ (removes all obstacles)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (auspicious)

• तत्र: there, in that (place/context)
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: ‘there/in that’)

• अर्कचन्द्रवह्नीयनाम्: of the courses/paths of the sun, moon, and fire
• अर्कचन्द्रवह्नीयनाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क-चन्द्र-वह्नि-यन (प्रातिपदिक; अर्क + चन्द्र + वह्नि + यन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ—‘अर्कः च चन्द्रः च वह्निः च’ इत्येषां ‘यन’ (paths/courses) सम्बन्धः

• मण्डलानि: circles, spheres
• मण्डलानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• विचिन्तयेत्: should contemplate
• विचिन्तयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘विचिन्तयेत्’ = should contemplate/visualize

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Arka)
• Chandra
• Agni (Vahni)

FAQs

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

It teaches a protective mantra-dhyana: a specific seed-syllable associated with auspiciousness is used as a support for visualizing the luminous powers of Sun, Moon, and Fire, thereby removing obstacles (vighnas) in worship.

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

By prescribing focused contemplation (dhyana) and sacred sound (mantra), it shows how devotion is stabilized through disciplined ritual concentration, making the mind fit for steady remembrance of the deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-prayoga and dhyana-vidhi aligned with Vedanga-style technical practice—using phonetic seed-syllables (śikṣā/varṇa-bodha) and cosmic luminaries (often connected with jyotiṣa) as structured visualization in ritual.