Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 150

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

मूलमध्याग्रतो न्यस्येन्नवधा मूलवर्णकैः । लोहितां लोहिताकारशक्तिंबृदनिषेविताम् ॥ १५० ॥

Transliteration

mūlamadhyāgrato nyasyennavadhā mūlavarṇakaiḥ | lohitāṃ lohitākāraśaktiṃbṛdaniṣevitām || 150 ||

Translation

One should perform nyāsa at the root, the middle, and the tip, placing the mantric syllables ninefold by means of the root-letters. Thereafter one should contemplate the red Śakti—red in form—attended by a host of divine servants.

Word by Word

• मूल-मध्य-अग्रतः: from the root, middle, and front
• मूल-मध्य-अग्रतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Directional)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; अग्रतः इति अव्ययप्रधानम् (from the root, middle, and front)

• न्यस्येत्: should place / should deposit
• न्यस्येत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु) → न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• नवधा: in nine ways / ninefold
• नवधा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नवधा (अव्यय)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of manner: ninefold)

• मूल-वर्णकैः: with the root-letters (seed syllables)
• मूल-वर्णकैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्णक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मूलस्य वर्णकाः)

• लोहिताम्: red (female)
• लोहिताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; (शक्तिम्/देवीम्) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• लोहित-आकार-शक्तिम्: the Śakti of red form
• लोहित-आकार-शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोहित (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भावेन तत्पुरुषः (लोहिताकारायाः शक्तिः)

• बृन्द-निषेविताम्: attended/served by a group (hosts)
• बृन्द-निषेविताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बृन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + नि + सेव् (धातु) → निषेवित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बृन्देन निषेविता इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थः

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on technical ritual procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shakti

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined mantra-embodiment through nyāsa—installing sacred sound into specific bodily/ritual points—followed by focused contemplation of Śakti, so practice becomes both precise (mantra) and inward (vision).

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

Though technical, it frames devotion as attentive service and remembrance: the practitioner installs the mantra with care and then adores the divine Energy (Śakti) in a vivid form, cultivating one-pointed reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied mantra-vidyā and ritual methodology—nyāsa (placement), use of varṇa/syllable sets, and prescribed visualization—typical of the technical instruction stream preserved in Book 1.3.