Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मरंध्रे भ्रुवोर्मध्ये हृन्नाभ्योर्गुह्यपादयोः । मंत्रवर्णान्क्रमान्न्यस्य केशवादीन्प्रविन्यसेत् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

brahmaraṃdhre bhruvormadhye hṛnnābhyorguhyapādayoḥ | maṃtravarṇānkramānnyasya keśavādīnpravinyaset || 9 ||

Translation

Placing the syllables of the mantra in due order at the brahma-randhra (crown of the head), between the eyebrows, in the heart, at the navel, in the secret region, and in the feet, one should then carefully install (nyāsa) the divine names beginning with Keśava.

Word by Word

• brahma-raṃdhre: in the brahma-opening (crown aperture)
• brahma-raṃdhre: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + randhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘ब्रह्मणः रन्ध्रम्’)

• bhruvoḥ: of/between the two eyebrows
• bhruvoḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/7th), द्विवचन

• madhye: in the middle
• madhye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन

• hṛt-nābhyoḥ: in/at the heart and navel
• hṛt-nābhyoḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd/hṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + nābhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्वे नपुंसकत्वं सम्भवति; अत्र द्विवचन-रूपम्), षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/7th), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (‘हृद् च नाभिः च’)

• guhya-pādayoḥ: in/at the genitals and the feet
• guhya-pādayoḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guhya (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/7th), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (‘गुह्यं च पादौ च’—intended set of loci)

• mantra-varṇān: the syllables/letters of the mantra
• mantra-varṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘मन्त्रस्य वर्णाः’)

• kramāt: in sequence
• kramāt: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे प्रयोगः (in order/stepwise)

• nyasya: having placed (nyāsa)
• nyasya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-as (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘न्यस्य’ = having placed/assigning

• keśava-ādīn: (names) beginning with Keśava, etc.
• keśava-ādīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: keśava (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘केशवः आदिः येषाम्’—list beginning with Keśava)

• pravi-nyaset: should place/assign properly
• pravi-nyaset: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-vi-ni-as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Keśava

FAQs

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

It teaches nyāsa—sanctifying the practitioner’s body by mapping mantra-syllables and Viṣṇu’s names onto key inner loci—so the body becomes a fit vessel for japa and worship.

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

By ‘installing’ names like Keśava within oneself, devotion becomes internalized: the devotee remembers Viṣṇu not only outwardly in ritual but inwardly through embodied remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical mantra-prayoga: correct krama (sequence) of varṇas (syllables) and the procedural discipline of nyāsa used in orthodox ritual manuals linked with śikṣā (phonetics) and kalpa-style ritual method.