Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Yakṣiṇī-Mantra-Sādhana Nirūpaṇa

Lakṣmī-avatāra-vidyāḥ: Bālā, Annapūrṇā, Bagalā

Devanagari script

मृर्ध्नो ह्रदंतं तर्तीयं क्रमाद्देहेषु विन्यसेत् । आद्यं वामकरे दक्षकरे तदुभयोः परम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

mṛrdhno hradaṃtaṃ tartīyaṃ kramāddeheṣu vinyaset | ādyaṃ vāmakare dakṣakare tadubhayoḥ param || 4 ||

Translation

One should place the third mantric installation in due order upon the body, from the crown of the head down to the end-point at the heart. The first is to be placed on the left hand, the second on the right hand, and then the next upon both together.

Word by Word

• मूर्ध्नः: of the head/crown
• मूर्ध्नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हृद: heart
• हृद: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद्/हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘हृदन्तम्’ इत्यस्य पूर्वपदम् (विग्रहः: हृद्-अन्तम्)

• अन्तम्: end/limit
• अन्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तृतीयम्: the third (one)
• तृतीयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘third’

• क्रमात्: in sequence/stepwise
• क्रमात्: Hetu (हेतु/According to)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘क्रमात्’ = in order/according to sequence

• देहेषु: in the bodies/parts of the body
• देहेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विन्यसेत्: should place/arrange
• विन्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• आद्यम्: the first (one)
• आद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वामकरे: in the left hand
• वामकरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम-कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वामस्य करः)

• दक्षकरे: in the right hand
• दक्षकरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष-कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दक्षस्य करः)

• तत्: of those
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘तदुभयोः’ इत्यस्य पूर्वपदम्

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘of both’

• परम्: the next (one)
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘next/after that’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the technical procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches ordered mantra-nyāsa—sacralizing the practitioner’s body by placing the mantra in specific loci (head, heart, hands), making the body a fit vessel for recitation and worship.

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

By prescribing disciplined preparatory rites (nyāsa) before worship/recitation, it supports bhakti with proper ritual focus—channeling devotion through a sanctified body and concentrated mind.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Shiksha-style procedural precision: the ordered placement (krama) of mantra on body-points and hands (karanyāsa/anganyāsa), a technical aid to correct ritual performance.