Shloka 7

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Aṣṭākṣarī Maṇḍala-Pūjā and Nyāsa

Devanagari script

अष्टाक्षरं ततो मंत्रं न्यसेद्देहात्मनेर्बुधः । वामपादं समारभ्य क्रमशश्चैव विन्यसेत् ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭākṣaraṃ tato maṃtraṃ nyaseddehātmanerbudhaḥ | vāmapādaṃ samārabhya kramaśaścaiva vinyaset || 7 ||

Translation

Dann soll der weise Übende das Nyāsa des acht-silbigen Mantras (aṣṭākṣara) auf seinem eigenen Körper vollziehen, beginnend beim linken Fuß und es Schritt für Schritt in der rechten Ordnung einsetzen.

Word by Word

• aṣṭa-akṣaram: eight-syllabled
• aṣṭa-akṣaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'mantram'

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• mantram: mantra
• mantram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• nyaset: should place/assign (nyāsa)
• nyaset: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√as (धातु) (अस्यति/न्यस्यति)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• deha-ātmaneḥ: of the embodied self
• deha-ātmaneḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); dehātmā = 'body-self', here 'of the embodied self'

• budhaḥ: the wise person
• budhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vāma-pādam: the left foot
• vāma-pādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāma (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• samārabhya: starting from
• samārabhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-ā-√rabh (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable; 'having begun/starting from'

• kramaśaḥ: in order, sequentially
• kramaśaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kramaśaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• vinyaset: should arrange/place (systematically)
• vinyaset: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√ni-as (धातु) (विन्यस्यति)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within a ritual/vidhi context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches mantra-śuddhi and body-consecration (nyāsa): the devotee sanctifies the body as a fit seat for the deity by installing the aṣṭākṣarī mantra in an ordered way.

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

Bhakti here is practiced as disciplined upāsanā—devotion expressed through reverent ritual order, where the devotee’s own body becomes an instrument of worship through mantra-installation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual science and correct procedure (kalpa/vidhi) through nyāsa and vinyāsa—precise sequencing and placement that depend on accurate mantra recitation and method.