Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 75

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

गुह्ययुग्मोरुयुग्मेषु जानुजंघास्फिजोः पुनः । कट्यां पार्श्वद्वये वामकला न्यस्येत्त्रयोदश ॥ ७५ ॥

Transliteration

guhyayugmoruyugmeṣu jānujaṃghāsphijoḥ punaḥ | kaṭyāṃ pārśvadvaye vāmakalā nyasyettrayodaśa || 75 ||

Translation

One should perform nyāsa by placing the left kalā upon the pair of secret organs and the pair of thighs; again upon the knees, the shanks (lower legs), and the buttocks; and then upon the waist and both sides—thus the thirteenth placement is completed.

Word by Word

• गुह्य-युग्म-ऊरु-युग्मेषु: in the pair of groins and the pair of thighs
• गुह्य-युग्म-ऊरु-युग्मेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक) + युग्म (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक) + युग्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषः (guhya-yugma + ūru-yugma)

• जानु-जङ्घा-स्फिजोः: at the knees, shanks, and hips (dual set)
• जानु-जङ्घा-स्फिजोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक) + जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक) + स्फिज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (समाहार/इतरेतर) द्वन्द्वसमास; द्विवचन-रूपं, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-सम्भाव्य (contextual locative sense); रूपम्: -योः (Dual oblique)

• पुनः: again; further
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• कट्याम्: on the waist
• कट्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पार्श्व-द्वये: on the two sides (both flanks)
• पार्श्व-द्वये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषः (of the sides = pair of sides)

• वाम-कला: the left kalā (energy/part)
• वाम-कला: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (वामा एव कला)

• न्यस्येत्: should place
• न्यस्येत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु) (न्यास/स्थापनार्थे)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः—‘स्थापयेत्/न्यसेत्’

• त्रयोदश: thirteen
• त्रयोदश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रयोदश (संख्याशब्द, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; (द्विगु-समास) अव्ययवत्/विशेषणरूपेण; (implicit) ‘कलाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narada (teaching a technical nyāsa procedure in the Vedāṅga/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches bodily sanctification through nyāsa—mapping sacred power (kalā/mantra) onto the practitioner’s limbs so the body becomes a fit support for worship and concentration.

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

By prescribing disciplined preparatory worship (aṅga-śuddhi through nyāsa), it supports steady devotion: the devotee honors the Divine by ritual purity, focus, and reverent embodiment before japa or pūjā.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual procedure (prayoga) and mantra-nyāsa conventions—an example of technical religious science aligned with Vedāṅga-style precision in recitation and placement.