Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Chandas: Varṇa-gaṇas, Guru-Laghu, Vṛtta-bheda, and Prastāra Procedures

Devanagari script

एकादिक्रमतश्चैकानुपर्य्युपरि विन्यसेत् । उपांत्यतो निवर्तेत त्यजन्नेकैकमूर्द्धतः ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

ekādikramataścaikānuparyyupari vinyaset | upāṃtyato nivarteta tyajannekaikamūrddhataḥ || 18 ||

Translation

Placing them one by one in ascending order, he should arrange them successively higher and higher. Then, beginning from the penultimate, he should withdraw—abandoning each one, stage by stage, from the crown of the head.

Word by Word

• एकादि-क्रमतः: in sequence starting from one
• एकादि-क्रमतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एक+आदि+क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (एकादि-क्रम); तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय: ‘in order beginning with one’

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एकान्: ones (single units)
• एकान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• उपरि: above
• उपरि: अधिकरण (Adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• उपरि: higher and higher/one above another
• उपरि: अधिकरण (Adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place), पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• विन्यसेत्: should place/arrange
• विन्यसेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+नि+अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• उपान्त्यतः: from the penultimate (position)
• उपान्त्यतः: अपादान (Source/starting point)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपान्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘from the penultimate’

• निवर्तेत: should turn back/return
• निवर्तेत: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+वृत् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• त्यजन्: leaving/abandoning
• त्यजन्: कर्ता (Agent as participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle) ‘tyajan’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (कर्तरि)

• एकैकम्: each single one (one by one)
• एकैकम्: कर्म (Object/measure)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक+एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (पुनरुक्त-द्वन्द्व) ‘one by one’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)

• मूर्धतः: from the top
• मूर्धतः: अपादान (Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘from the top/head’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, Moksha-Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It teaches a graded inner discipline: first an ordered ascent (systematic placement), then a careful reversal (withdrawal), symbolizing mastery over the mind-prana and leading toward detachment and liberation.

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

Although framed as yogic technique, the same principle supports bhakti-sadhana: the practitioner gathers attention upward and inward, then releases all intermediate supports, resting the heart in single-pointed remembrance beyond distractions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical, stepwise method akin to Shiksha/Vyakarana-style sequencing (krama): precise ordering, placement (vinyasa), and reversal (nivritti) used as a disciplined tool for meditation and inner regulation.