Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

Mantraśodhana, Dīkṣā-krama, Guru-Pādukā, Ajapā-Haṃsa, and Ṣaṭcakra-Kuṇḍalinī Sādhana

Devanagari script

अशंकितो वा शय्यायां स्वकीयशिरसि स्मरेत् । सहस्रदलशुक्लाब्जकणिकास्थेंदुमण्डले ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

aśaṃkito vā śayyāyāṃ svakīyaśirasi smaret | sahasradalaśuklābjakaṇikāstheṃdumaṇḍale || 48 ||

Translation

Ou bien, étendu sur sa couche sans crainte, qu’il médite sur l’orbe lunaire établi dans sa propre tête, reposant sur les filaments au centre d’un lotus blanc aux mille pétales.

Word by Word

• अशंकितः: unafraid/without doubt
• अशंकितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-शङ्कित (कृदन्त; √शङ्क् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; कर्तरि विशेषण

• वा: or
• वा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (particle: or/alternatively)

• शय्यायाम्: on the bed
• शय्यायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वकीयशिरसि: on one’s own head
• स्वकीयशिरसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वकीय + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘स्वकीयस्य शिरसि’

• स्मरेत्: should remember/meditate
• स्मरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• सहस्रदलशुक्लाब्जकणिकास्थेन्दुमण्डले: in the moon-disc situated on the filament of the white thousand-petalled lotus
• सहस्रदलशुक्लाब्जकणिकास्थेन्दुमण्डले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + दल + शुक्ल + अब्ज + कणिका + स्थ + इन्दु + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-समासः—‘सहस्रदलस्य शुक्लाब्जस्य कणिकायां स्थिते इन्दुमण्डले’ (locative)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It prescribes an inner visualization (smaraṇa/dhyāna) of the thousand‑petalled lotus at the crown and a calming “lunar orb,” indicating a sattvic, cooling focus that steadies the mind and supports liberation-oriented practice.

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

Even though it is framed as yogic meditation, the act of continuous remembrance (smaret) functions like bhakti-style smaraṇa—training the devotee to keep sacred awareness present even at rest, such as while lying down.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical, method-based instruction (prayoga) aligned with Narada Purana’s Book 1.3 tone—structured dhyāna visualization (a practical discipline akin to auxiliary sciences of practice), emphasizing precise mental placement and form (lotus, center, orb).