Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 166

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

हृषीकेशेति संप्रोच्याप्रतिरूपादिशब्दतः । मम्नथानंतरं सर्वस्त्रीणां हृदयमीरयेत् ॥ १६६ ॥

Transliteration

hṛṣīkeśeti saṃprocyāpratirūpādiśabdataḥ | mamnathānaṃtaraṃ sarvastrīṇāṃ hṛdayamīrayet || 166 ||

Translation

After uttering the word “Hṛṣīkeśa” (Lord of the senses), and then pronouncing the syllables beginning with “pratirūpa” as prescribed, one should next stir the hearts of all women—i.e., effect attraction—through the subsequent mantra-procedure.

Word by Word

• हृषीकेश-इति: (the word) ‘Hṛṣīkeśa’ (thus)
• हृषीकेश-इति: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हृषीकेश (प्रातिपदिक) + इति (अव्यय)
• Form: ‘इति’ इत्यनेन मन्त्रपद-निर्देशः (quotative); हृषीकेश = पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन (मन्त्रपद-रूपे)

• सम्प्रोच्य: having uttered
• सम्प्रोच्य: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + प्र + वच् (धातु) → सम्प्रोच्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्/क्त्वा-प्राय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव (gerund/absolutive): ‘उक्त्वा’ (having uttered)

• अप्रतिरूप-आदि-शब्दतः: from the word beginning with ‘apratirūpa’
• अप्रतिरूप-आदि-शब्दतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अ-प्रतिरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (अव्यय/तसिल्)
• Form: पञ्चमी-अर्थे तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival): ‘...शब्दात्/शब्दतः’ = from the word; समास: ‘अप्रतिरूपादि’ (beginning with ‘apratirūpa’)

• मम्नथ: churn/agitate (as a mantra-command)
• मम्नथ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्थ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; रूपम्: मम्नथ (आदेश/अभ्यासयुक्त)

• अनन्तरम्: immediately after
• अनन्तरम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverb): immediately after

• सर्व-स्त्रीणाम्: of all women
• सर्व-स्त्रीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘सर्वासां स्त्रीणाम्’

• हृदयम्: heart
• हृदयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• ईरयेत्: should set in motion/utter/recite
• ईरयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching a technical mantra-prayoga within the Vedanga/auxiliary-science context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Hṛṣīkeśa)

FAQs

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

It frames a technical mantra-prayoga around the divine name “Hṛṣīkeśa,” implying that even applied procedures are anchored in invoking Viṣṇu as the controller of the senses.

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

Bhakti appears indirectly through reliance on a Viṣṇu-nāma (“Hṛṣīkeśa”); the verse suggests efficacy begins with remembrance/utterance of the Lord before any subsequent procedural steps.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-prayoga structure—ordered recitation, use of specific syllable/word sequences, and the principle that precise utterance (linked to śikṣā/phonetics and vyākaraṇa/word-form) is central to ritual technique.