Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

मंत्रेण पुटितांश्चापि प्रणवाद्यांस्ततो न्यसेत् । गायत्र्या पुटुतं मंत्रं विन्यसेन्मातृकास्थले ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

maṃtreṇa puṭitāṃścāpi praṇavādyāṃstato nyaset | gāyatryā puṭutaṃ maṃtraṃ vinyasenmātṛkāsthale || 34 ||

Translation

Then one should place in nyāsa the syllables beginning with the Praṇava (Oṃ), which have been ‘sealed and empowered’ (pūṭita) by the mantra. And the mantra empowered by the Gāyatrī should be installed at the seat of the Mātṛkās—the matrix of letters.

Word by Word

• मन्त्रेण: by/with the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• पुटितान्: enclosed; ‘wrapped’
• पुटितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुटित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पुट्/पुट् ‘to enclose/pack’ (धातु))
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

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

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण/सम्भावना particle): ‘also/even’

• प्रणव-आद्यान्: (syllables) beginning with praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणव-आद्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘प्रणवादयः’)

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रम/अनन्तर/adverb): ‘then/thereafter’

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• गायत्र्या: with the Gāyatrī (mantra)
• गायत्र्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• पुटुतम्: well-enclosed; properly ‘saṃpuṭita’
• पुटुतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुटुत (प्रातिपदिक; ‘well-enclosed’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• विन्यसेत्: should arrange/place
• विन्यसेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नि + अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मातृका-स्थले: in the place/seat of the mātṛkās (letters)
• मातृका-स्थले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृका (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘मातृकायाः स्थलम्’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on technical ritual procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Gayatri
• Pranava (Om)
• Matrikas

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-power is stabilized through samskāra (puṭa/“sealing”) and nyāsa—internalizing sacred sound (Praṇava and the letter-matrix) so the practitioner’s body-mind becomes a fit locus for worship and realization.

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

By prescribing disciplined installation of Praṇava and the Gāyatrī-empowered mantra, it frames devotion as a sanctified practice: the devotee prepares oneself as an abode of the deity through purified sound and correct ritual placement.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-vidyā and phonetic/letter awareness (linked to Śikṣā and the Mātṛkā alphabet tradition), emphasizing correct ritual application of syllables (Praṇava, Gāyatrī) via nyāsa.