Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

The Exposition of Nṛsiṁha Worship-Mantras, Nyāsa, Mudrās, Yantras, Kavaca, and Nṛsiṁha Gāyatrī

Devanagari script

इत्यन्तान्यास्यकघ्राणचक्षुः श्रोत्रेषु पक्ष्मसु । हृदि नाभौ च कट्यादिपादान्तं नवसु न्यसेत् ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

ityantānyāsyakaghrāṇacakṣuḥ śrotreṣu pakṣmasu | hṛdi nābhau ca kaṭyādipādāntaṃ navasu nyaset || 28 ||

Translation

Thus, having completed the preceding nyāsa, one should place the mantra (or its parts) in the mouth, nose, eyes, ears, and upon the eyelashes; in the heart, in the navel, and from the waist down to the end of the feet—making nine placements in all.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• अन्तानि: endings/terminal parts
• अन्तानि: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; Accusative plural intended

• आस्यकघ्राणचक्षुः: in the mouth, nose, and eye (set of places)
• आस्यकघ्राणचक्षुः: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आस्य + क + घ्राण + चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्व as a collective locative); components: mouth + (ka?) + nose + eye; text likely intends आस्यक-घ्राण-चक्षुः as a set of loci

• श्रोत्रेषु: in the ears
• श्रोत्रेषु: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; Locative plural

• पक्ष्मसु: in the eyelashes
• पक्ष्मसु: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; Locative plural (n-stem)

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular (irregular)

• नाभौ: in the navel
• नाभौ: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कट्यादिपादान्तम्: (the region) from the waist etc. up to the feet-end
• कट्यादिपादान्तम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटि + आदि + पाद + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular; compound: ‘from waist etc. up to the end of the feet’ (आदि-तत्पुरुष + अन्त-तत्पुरुष)

• नवसु: in the nine (locations)
• नवसु: अधिकरण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; Locative plural used substantively ‘in the nine (places)’

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Optative

Speaker

Narada (teaching a technical ritual method within Vedanga-oriented practice)

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 internalization of worship through nyāsa—placing sacred sound/intent into specific bodily centers so the practitioner’s body becomes a fit vessel for mantra-sādhana and focused contemplation.

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

By prescribing bodily placements tied to mantra, it supports devotional upāsanā as embodied remembrance—turning senses and inner centers (heart, navel) into instruments of attentive worship rather than distraction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-technical application of mantra (a prayoga within Vedic/Āgamic discipline): a structured nyāsa sequence, emphasizing precise placement steps and count (nine) for correct practice.