Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

इन्द्वाढ्यं वामकर्णाद्यमाययोर्वीशयुक्तया । शिखामंकुशपद्माभ्यां सवाग्भ्यां वर्म विन्यसेत् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

indvāḍhyaṃ vāmakarṇādyamāyayorvīśayuktayā | śikhāmaṃkuśapadmābhyāṃ savāgbhyāṃ varma vinyaset || 12 ||

Translation

He should arrange the varma/kavaca (protective armour) by placing the syllables beginning at the left ear—endowed with the indu (lunar) element—and, with the Māyā-syllables joined to the number twenty (vīśa), he should perform nyāsa upon the śikhā (topknot), the aṅkuśa (goad), and the padma (lotus), together with the syllables of vāk (sacred speech).

Word by Word

• indu-āḍhyam: endowed with 'indu'
• indu-āḍhyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: indu (प्रातिपदिक) + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'indunā āḍhyam' = 'endowed with indu (moon/seed)'

• vāma-karṇa-ādi: beginning at the left ear
• vāma-karṇa-ādi: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāma (प्रातिपदिक) + karṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'vāma-karṇaḥ ādiḥ' = 'beginning at the left ear'

• māyayor: of the two māyās
• māyayor: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Dual (द्विवचन)

• vīśa-yuktayā: with (that) joined with vīśa
• vīśa-yuktayā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīśa (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (कृदन्त; √yuj धातु)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); past participle (क्त) used adjectivally; तत्पुरुष: 'vīśena yuktā'

• śikhā: with the topknot
• śikhā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन) (in dvandva-instrumental with following)

• aṃkuśa-padmābhyām: with the goad and the lotus
• aṃkuśa-padmābhyām: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃkuśa (प्रातिपदिक) + padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Dual (द्विवचन); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: 'aṃkuśena ca padmena ca'

• sa-vākbhyām: together with the two utterances/sounds
• sa-vākbhyām: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Dual (द्विवचन); कर्मधारय: 'saha vākbhyām' = 'together with the two utterances/speech-sounds'

• varma: armor; protective covering
• varma: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varman (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)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on technical ritual-nyasa)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches a precise nyāsa method for establishing a protective kavaca (varma), where mantra-syllables are ritually placed on specific points and emblems so the practitioner is guarded and the rite becomes siddha (effective).

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

Though technical, the kavaca-nyāsa is performed as an act of surrendered worship—using mantra and sacred placements to align body and speech with the deity’s protection, supporting steady devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied mantra-vidyā and ritual procedure (nyāsa/vinyāsa), including numeric coupling of syllables (e.g., “twenty”) and prescribed placement points—typical of the technical sciences discussed in the Third Pada.