Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Bhuvaneśī (Nidrā-Śakti) Mantra-vidhi, Nyāsa–Āvaraṇa Worship, Padma-homa Prayogas, and the Opening of Śrī-Mahālakṣmī Upāsanā

Devanagari script

रत्या स्मरं मुखे न्यस्य पुण्यागणपतिं न्यसेत् । सव्यकर्णोपरि निधाकर्णगंडांतरालयोः ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

ratyā smaraṃ mukhe nyasya puṇyāgaṇapatiṃ nyaset | savyakarṇopari nidhākarṇagaṃḍāṃtarālayoḥ || 13 ||

Translation

Placing by nyāsa the mantra of Smara (Kāma) upon the mouth, one should then place the mantra of the auspicious Gaṇapati—upon the upper part of the left ear, and also in the region between the ear and the cheek.

Word by Word

• रत्या: with Rati
• रत्या: Sahakaraka (सह/साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्मरम्: Smara (Kāma)
• स्मरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मुखे: in/on the mouth/face
• मुखे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• न्यस्य: having placed
• न्यस्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—ल्यप् (absolutive), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया

• पुण्य-गणपतिम्: the auspicious Gaṇapati
• पुण्य-गणपतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य + गणपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (‘पुण्यः गणपतिः’)

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सव्य-कर्ण-उपरि: above the left ear
• सव्य-कर्ण-उपरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सव्य + कर्ण + उपरि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; ‘उपरि’ अव्ययप्रधान; स्थानवाचक (above)

• निधा-कर्ण-गण्ड-अन्तर-आलयोः: in the two abodes: between the ear and the cheek (as specified)
• निधा-कर्ण-गण्ड-अन्तर-आलयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधा + कर्ण + गण्ड + अन्तर + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (बहुपद); ‘आलय’ = स्थान/आश्रय; द्विवचनं ‘(… )योः’ = in the two locations

Speaker

Narada (instructing within a technical/ritual exposition, traditionally in dialogue context with Sanatkumāra)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Rati
• Smara (Kama)
• Ganapati (Ganesha)

FAQs

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

It teaches nyāsa—ritually installing specific deities/mantras onto bodily locations—so the practitioner’s speech and sensory faculties become sacralized and aligned with the intended sādhana.

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

By prescribing reverential placement of deity-mantras (Smara and Gaṇapati), it frames devotion as embodied worship (upāsanā), where the devotee internalizes the deity’s presence rather than treating worship as only external.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical ritual procedure—mantra-nyāsa (aṅga/karṇa-mukha related placements)—reflecting applied liturgical knowledge used alongside śikṣā-style attention to correct recitation and placement in sādhana.