Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 103

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

चक्रं शंखं गदां पद्मं कराग्रेष्वथ विन्यसेत् । एवं न्यासविधिं कृत्वा ध्यायेत्पूर्वोक्तमण्डपे ॥ १०३ ॥

Transliteration

cakraṃ śaṃkhaṃ gadāṃ padmaṃ karāgreṣvatha vinyaset | evaṃ nyāsavidhiṃ kṛtvā dhyāyetpūrvoktamaṇḍape || 103 ||

Translation

Ensuite, par le nyāsa, qu’on place le cakra, la śaṅkha, la gadā et le padma sur le bout des doigts. Ayant ainsi accompli le nyāsa selon la règle, qu’on médite dans le maṇḍapa décrit plus haut.

Word by Word

• cakram: discus
• cakram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaṃkham: conch
• śaṃkham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• gadām: mace
• gadām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• padmam: lotus
• padmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kara-agreṣu: on the tips/fronts of the hands
• kara-agreṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (karāṇām agreṣu)

• atha: then/next
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; discourse particle/conjunctive adverb (अनन्तरार्थक)

• vinyaset: should place/arrange
• vinyaset: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ni-√as (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• nyāsa-vidhim: the procedure of nyāsa
• nyāsa-vidhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nyāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (nyāsasya vidhiḥ)

• kṛtvā: having performed
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), indeclinable; ‘having done’

• dhyāyet: should meditate
• dhyāyet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhyai (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• pūrva-ukta-maṇḍape: in the previously described pavilion
• pūrva-ukta-maṇḍape: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुष (pūrvam ukte maṇḍape = ‘in the previously mentioned pavilion’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a ritual/technical exposition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that meditation becomes more focused when preceded by nyāsa—ritually internalizing Viṣṇu’s divine emblems—so the practitioner’s body and mind are aligned with the deity’s presence before dhyāna.

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

By placing Viṣṇu’s symbols (cakra, śaṅkha, gadā, padma) on one’s fingertips, the devotee consecrates action and perception, turning meditation into an embodied act of Viṣṇu-bhakti rather than a purely mental exercise.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual-technical procedure (prayoga) akin to Kalpa/ritual methodology: the step-by-step nyāsa sequence followed by dhyāna in a specified maṇḍapa, emphasizing correct placement (vinyāsa) and order of practice.