Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

पूर्वाद्याशासु दामाद्या ङेंनमोन्तध्रुवादिकाः । अग्निनैर्ऋतिवाय्वीशकोणेषु हृदयादिकान् ॥ ६० ॥

Transliteration

pūrvādyāśāsu dāmādyā ṅeṃnamontadhruvādikāḥ | agninairṛtivāyvīśakoṇeṣu hṛdayādikān || 60 ||

Translation

In the directions beginning with the East, one should place the mantras beginning with “dāma” and the set beginning with “ṅeṃ, namaḥ, anta, dhruva,” and so on; and in the corners—Agni (southeast), Nairṛti (southwest), Vāyu (northwest), and Īśa (northeast)—one should place the aṅga-nyāsa beginning with “hṛdaya” (the heart), and the rest.

Word by Word

• पूर्व-आदि-आशासु: in the directions beginning with the east
• पूर्व-आदि-आशासु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + आशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पूर्वादयः आशाः = the directions beginning with east)

• दाम-आद्याः: (deities) beginning with Dāma
• दाम-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाम (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दामादयः = those beginning with Dāma)

• ङेंनमोन्तध्रुव-आदिकाः: (names) beginning with Dhruva (preceding part uncertain)
• ङेंनमोन्तध्रुव-आदिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: (पाठदोष/दुर्लभ) + ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (…ध्रुवादयः = those beginning with Dhruva); initial segment ‘ङेंनमोन्त’ appears corrupt/uncertain

• अग्नि-नैर्ऋति-वायु-ईश-कोणेषु: in the corners of Agni, Nairṛti, Vāyu, and Īśa (NE etc.)
• अग्नि-नैर्ऋति-वायु-ईश-कोणेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + नैर्ऋति (प्रातिपदिक) + वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक) + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th), बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वसमासः (अग्निकोण, नैर्ऋतिकोण, वायव्यकोण, ईशानकोण)

• हृदय-आदिकान्: the (mantras/parts) beginning with ‘hṛdaya’
• हृदय-आदिकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (हृदयादीन् = heart etc. [mantras/nyāsas])

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual context, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Nairṛti
• Vāyu
• Īśa

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined mantra-application: aligning mantra and body-limb nyāsa with the cosmic directions and their presiding powers, so the practitioner’s worship becomes orderly, protected, and ritually complete.

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

While technical, it supports bhakti by prescribing correct ritual structure—directional placement and anga-nyāsa—so devotion is expressed through precise, reverent worship rather than mere emotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual science and mantra-prayoga: the use of dik (directions), koṇa-devatā (corner deities), and anga-nyāsa terms like hṛdaya (heart) as part of formal worship procedure.