Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

Hanumān-mantra-kathana: Mantra-bheda, Nyāsa, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

यंत्रमेतत्समालिख्य निराहारो जितेंद्रियः । कपेः प्राणान्प्रतिष्टाप्य पूजयेत्तद्यथाविधि ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

yaṃtrametatsamālikhya nirāhāro jiteṃdriyaḥ | kapeḥ prāṇānpratiṣṭāpya pūjayettadyathāvidhi || 68 ||

Translation

Having carefully drawn this sacred yantra, fasting and with the senses restrained, one should establish the prāṇa (vital presence) of Kapi and then worship it according to the prescribed rite.

Word by Word

• यन्त्रम्: yantra (mystic diagram)
• यन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjectival pronoun) to यन्त्रम्

• सम्-आ-लिख्य: having drawn (it)
• सम्-आ-लिख्य: Kriya-hetu (क्रियाहेतु)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु) + सम्/आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), ‘having drawn/written completely’

• निराहारः: fasting; without food
• निराहारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (one who is without food); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• जितेन्द्रियः: self-controlled
• जितेन्द्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित-इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (one whose senses are conquered); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कपेः: of the monkey (Hanuman)
• कपेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• प्राणान्: vital breaths; life-forces
• प्राणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रति-स्थाप्य: having स्थापित/installed
• प्रति-स्थाप्य: Kriya-hetu (क्रियाहेतु)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + प्रति (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having installed/established’

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘that (yantra)’ as object

• यथा-विधि: according to rule; duly
• यथा-विधि: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kapi (Hanuman)

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacred worship is not merely drawing a diagram, but requires inner purity—fasting and sense-restraint—followed by a formal consecration (pratiṣṭhā) of the deity’s presence before worship.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through disciplined, rule-following devotion: the devotee prepares the body and mind (nirāhāra, jitendriya) and then worships Kapi with proper ritual order (yathāvidhi), showing reverence and steadiness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-style ritual procedure (vidhi): yantra-lekhanam (drawing), pratiṣṭhā (installation/consecration), and pūjā performed according to injunction—reflecting technical liturgical knowledge rather than mere belief.