Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Chandas: Varṇa-gaṇas, Guru-Laghu, Vṛtta-bheda, and Prastāra Procedures

Devanagari script

एकादिक्रमतश्चैकानुपर्य्युपरि विन्यसेत् । उपांत्यतो निवर्तेत त्यजन्नेकैकमूर्द्धतः ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

ekādikramataścaikānuparyyupari vinyaset | upāṃtyato nivarteta tyajannekaikamūrddhataḥ || 18 ||

Translation

Les plaçant un à un selon l’ordre ascendant, qu’il les dispose successivement toujours plus haut. Puis, en commençant par l’avant-dernier, qu’il se retire, abandonnant chacun par degrés, depuis le sommet de la tête.

Word by Word

• एकादि-क्रमतः: in sequence starting from one
• एकादि-क्रमतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एक+आदि+क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (एकादि-क्रम); तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय: ‘in order beginning with one’

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एकान्: ones (single units)
• एकान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• उपरि: above
• उपरि: अधिकरण (Adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• उपरि: higher and higher/one above another
• उपरि: अधिकरण (Adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place), पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• विन्यसेत्: should place/arrange
• विन्यसेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+नि+अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• उपान्त्यतः: from the penultimate (position)
• उपान्त्यतः: अपादान (Source/starting point)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपान्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘from the penultimate’

• निवर्तेत: should turn back/return
• निवर्तेत: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+वृत् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• त्यजन्: leaving/abandoning
• त्यजन्: कर्ता (Agent as participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle) ‘tyajan’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (कर्तरि)

• एकैकम्: each single one (one by one)
• एकैकम्: कर्म (Object/measure)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक+एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (पुनरुक्त-द्वन्द्व) ‘one by one’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)

• मूर्धतः: from the top
• मूर्धतः: अपादान (Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘from the top/head’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, Moksha-Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It teaches a graded inner discipline: first an ordered ascent (systematic placement), then a careful reversal (withdrawal), symbolizing mastery over the mind-prana and leading toward detachment and liberation.

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

Although framed as yogic technique, the same principle supports bhakti-sadhana: the practitioner gathers attention upward and inward, then releases all intermediate supports, resting the heart in single-pointed remembrance beyond distractions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical, stepwise method akin to Shiksha/Vyakarana-style sequencing (krama): precise ordering, placement (vinyasa), and reversal (nivritti) used as a disciplined tool for meditation and inner regulation.