Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

सुषुम्णावर्त्मनातां च षट्चक्रक्रमभेदिनीम् । गुरुपदिष्टविधिना ब्रह्मरंध्रं नयेत्सुधीः ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

suṣumṇāvartmanātāṃ ca ṣaṭcakrakramabhedinīm | gurupadiṣṭavidhinā brahmaraṃdhraṃ nayetsudhīḥ || 71 ||

Translation

Suivant la voie de la suṣumṇā et perçant l’enchaînement des six cakras, le sage—selon la méthode transmise par le guru—doit la conduire jusqu’au brahma-randhra, « l’ouverture de Brahman » au sommet du crâne.

Word by Word

• सुषुम्णा-वर्त्मना: by the Suṣumnā path
• सुषुम्णा-वर्त्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुषुम्णा (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्त्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सुषुम्णायाः वर्त्मना = by the path of Suṣumnā)

• आताम्: let (them) proceed/come
• आताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थक), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद (आताम् = let them come/approach)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• षट्-चक्र-क्रम-भेदिनीम्: (her) who pierces/distinguishes the sequence of the six cakras
• षट्-चक्र-क्रम-भेदिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + भेदिन्/भेदिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (षट्चक्राणां क्रमस्य भेदिनी = one who differentiates/penetrates the sequence of the six cakras)

• गुरु-पदिष्ट-विधिना: by the guru-taught method
• गुरु-पदिष्ट-विधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + उपदिश् (धातु) → पदिष्ट (कृदन्त) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (गुरुणा उपदिष्टः विधिः = by the method taught by the guru)

• ब्रह्म-रन्ध्रम्: to the brahmarandhra (crown aperture)
• ब्रह्म-रन्ध्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + रन्ध्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (ब्रह्मणः रन्ध्रम् = the brahma-aperture)

• नयेत्: should lead
• नयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (nayēt = should lead)

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (सु + धी = one of good intellect)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical-yogic context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Suṣumṇā
• Ṣaṭ-cakra
• Brahma-randhra
• Guru

FAQs

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

It frames liberation-oriented yoga as a disciplined inner ascent: the vital-spiritual current is guided through the central channel, transcending successive psycho-spiritual centers (ṣaṭ-cakra) and culminating at the brahma-randhra—symbolizing the highest integration and release toward Brahman.

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

While the verse is primarily yogic/technical, it implicitly supports bhakti by emphasizing guru-guided surrender to an authorized method; in Narada Purana, such disciplined inner practice is typically harmonized with devotion as the purified mind becomes fit for single-pointed remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights a technical discipline aligned with the Purana’s ‘third pada’ focus on structured knowledge: precise method (vidhi), teacher-transmission (guru-upadeśa), and an ordered progression (krama) through subtle anatomy—presented with the rigor expected of śāstric practice.