Shloka 66

न्यासवर्णनम् (Nyāsa-varṇanam) — Description of Nyāsa in the Saṃnyāsa Procedure

Devanagari script

अकारं पूर्वमुद्धृत्य ब्रह्मात्मानमथाचरेत् । ङेंतं नमोंतं हृदये विनियुज्यात्तथा पुनः

Transliteration

akāraṃ pūrvamuddhṛtya brahmātmānamathācaret | ṅeṃtaṃ namoṃtaṃ hṛdaye viniyujyāttathā punaḥ

Translation

First, one should draw forth the syllable “A” and practice contemplation of Brahman as one’s own Self. Then, in the heart, one should again place by nyāsa the subtle sounds “ṅeṃ” and “namoṃ” in their proper order.

Word by Word

• अकारम्: the syllable ‘a’ (akāra)
• अकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पूर्वम्: first, beforehand
• पूर्वम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• उद्धृत्य: having raised/uttered
• उद्धृत्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त), absolutive/gerund; ‘having lifted/uttered’

• ब्रह्मात्मानम्: the Brahma-self (brahmātmāna)
• ब्रह्मात्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः ‘ब्रह्म-आत्मा’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle)

• आचरेत्: should perform/practice
• आचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Optative, 3rd person, Singular; परस्मैपद

• ङेंतम्: the ‘ṅeṃta’ (mantric element)
• ङेंतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ङेंत (प्रातिपदिक/मन्त्राक्षर-नाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; neuter, Accusative, Singular (mantric syllable/form)

• नमोंतम्: the ‘namoṃta’ (mantric element)
• नमोंतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमोंत (प्रातिपदिक/मन्त्राक्षर-नाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; neuter, Accusative, Singular (mantric element)

• हृदये: in the heart
• हृदये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; neuter, Locative, Singular

• विनियुज्यात्: should apply/assign
• विनियुज्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नि-√युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Optative, 3rd person, Singular; परस्मैपद

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching mantra-yoga and nyāsa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches inner worship: realizing the Supreme (Brahman/Pati) as the Self and then sanctifying the heart through mantra-nyāsa, turning devotion into direct contemplative awareness.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

While Linga worship is an outer support (saguna upāsanā), this verse emphasizes the inner Linga—installing mantra in the heart—so the devotee’s awareness becomes the seat of Shiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-nyāsa and dhyāna: distinctly utter the seed-syllable, contemplate the Supreme as the inner Self, and place the specified mantra-sounds in the heart as part of japa and internal worship.