Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

शेषाढ्यबीजयुग्मेन हृदयं विन्यसेदधः । शांतियुक्तचतुर्थेन कामाद्येन शिरोंऽगकम् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

śeṣāḍhyabījayugmena hṛdayaṃ vinyasedadhaḥ | śāṃtiyuktacaturthena kāmādyena śiroṃ'gakam || 11 ||

Translation

With the pair of seed-syllables (bīja) endowed with the power of Śeṣa, one should place them below as hṛdaya-nyāsa (the heart placement). And with the fourth seed-syllable joined with “śānti”, from the series beginning with “kāma…”, one should place it upon the head as aṅga-nyāsa (the limb placement).

Word by Word

• śeṣa-āḍhya-bīja-yugmena: with the pair of seed(-syllables) endowed with the remainder
• śeṣa-āḍhya-bīja-yugmena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक) + bīja (प्रातिपदिक) + yugma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'śeṣaiḥ āḍhyaṃ bīja-yugmaṃ' = 'a pair of seed-syllables endowed with the remainder'

• hṛdayam: the heart
• hṛdayam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• vinyaset: should place/arrange
• vinyaset: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√nyas (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• adhaḥ: below
• adhaḥ: Desha-Adhikarana (देशाधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• śāṃti-yukta-caturthena: with the fourth (syllable/part) joined with śānti
• śāṃti-yukta-caturthena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāṃti (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (कृदन्त; √yuj धातु) + caturtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'śāṃtiyuktaṃ caturthaṃ' = 'the fourth (one) joined with śāṃti'

• kāma-ādyena: with (that) beginning with kāma
• kāma-ādyena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'kāmaḥ ādiḥ yasya' = 'beginning with kāma'

• śiraḥ: the head
• śiraḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• aṅgakam: the limb/part
• aṅgakam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the technical mantra-nyāsa procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shesha (Ananta)

FAQs

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

It teaches nyāsa—ritually placing specific bīja-syllables on body centers (heart and head) so the deity’s power is internalized and the practitioner’s speech, mind, and vital centers become aligned with the mantra.

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

Though technical, nyāsa supports bhakti by making worship embodied: the devotee consecrates the heart (seat of feeling) and head (seat of intention) so devotion is not merely verbal but ritually established within oneself.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure (mantra-vidhi/nyāsa) and precise application of bīja formulas—an applied, technical discipline associated with correct recitation and placement used in structured worship.