Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa

Devanagari script

शङ्खमौशलचकाख्याः परमीकरणं ततः । महामुद्रां योनिमुद्रां दर्शयेत्क्रमतः सुधीः ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

śaṅkhamauśalacakākhyāḥ paramīkaraṇaṃ tataḥ | mahāmudrāṃ yonimudrāṃ darśayetkramataḥ sudhīḥ || 20 ||

Translation

Ensuite, le pratiquant avisé doit, dans l’ordre prescrit, manifester les mudrās nommées Śaṅkha, Mauśala et Cakā. Vient ensuite le rite de « Paramīkaraṇa »; puis, successivement, il enseignera la Mahā-mudrā et la Yoni-mudrā.

Word by Word

• शङ्ख-मौशल-चक्र-आख्याः: called conch, pestle, and discus
• शङ्ख-मौशल-चक्र-आख्याः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + मौशल (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (शङ्खादि) + ‘आख्य’ = नामधेययुक्त (called/named)

• परमीकरणम्: the act of making supreme/sanctifying
• परमीकरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमीकरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरम्-अर्थे अव्यय (thereafter)

• महा-मुद्राम्: the great mudrā
• महा-मुद्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (mahā eva mudrā)

• योनि-मुद्राम्: the yoni-mudrā
• योनि-मुद्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक) + मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (yoneḥ mudrā)

• दर्शयेत्: should show
• दर्शयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• क्रमतः: in sequence
• क्रमतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रमतः (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: in order/stepwise)

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/yogic-ritual context)

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 emphasizes disciplined transmission of esoteric practice—mudrās and a consecratory procedure—taught in a precise order, suggesting that spiritual effects depend on correct sequencing and competent instruction.

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

Though technical, it supports Bhakti indirectly by presenting bodily-ritual disciplines as auxiliaries that stabilize the practitioner, making the mind fit for sustained remembrance and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical, procedural pedagogy—clear nomenclature, ordered steps (krama), and demonstrative instruction (darśayet)—reflecting the Narada Purana’s Book 1.3 focus on applied sacred sciences and ritual-yogic method.