Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

एकैकशो न्यसेद्वर्णान्मंत्रस्य क्रमतः सुधीः । न्यसेद्धृदंसोरुपदेष्वर्णान्वेदमितान्मनोः ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

ekaikaśo nyasedvarṇānmaṃtrasya kramataḥ sudhīḥ | nyaseddhṛdaṃsorupadeṣvarṇānvedamitānmanoḥ || 13 ||

Translation

Le pratiquant avisé doit accomplir le nyāsa en déposant les syllabes du mantra une à une, selon leur ordre juste. Puis il placera, sur le cœur, les épaules, les cuisses et les pieds, les syllabes de la formule sacrée telles que le Veda les mesure et les prescrit.

Word by Word

• एकैकशः: one by one
• एकैकशः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); अव्ययीभावः ‘one by one’

• न्यसेत्: should place (nyāsa)
• न्यसेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√अस्/√न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वर्णान्: letters/syllables
• वर्णान्: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• मन्त्रस्य: of the mantra
• मन्त्रस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• क्रमतः: in sequence
• क्रमतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘in order/ क्रमशः’

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

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√अस्/√न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• अंस-ऊरु-पदेषु: on the shoulders, thighs, and feet
• अंस-ऊरु-पदेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंस (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (collective)

• वर्णान्: letters/syllables
• वर्णान्: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• वेद-मितान्: measured/defined by the Veda
• वेद-मितान्: विशेषण (Adjectival to वर्णान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + मित (कृदन्त; √मा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘वेदेन मिताः’ (instrumental-tatpuruṣa), मित = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• मनोः: of Manu (i.e., of the mantra/Manu)
• मनोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching a technical ritual procedure within Vedanga-oriented instruction)

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 that mantra is not merely recited but ritually embodied: by nyāsa, the practitioner internalizes the mantra’s power through ordered placement of its syllables on key limbs, aligning the body-mind with Vedic rule (veda-mita).

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

While technical, the verse supports bhakti by emphasizing disciplined, reverent mantra-practice; correct nyāsa makes japa and worship more focused and sanctified, turning devotion into a Veda-aligned sādhana rather than casual speech.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-krama: syllables (varṇa) must be placed and handled in correct sequence and measure, reflecting Vedic precision in sound, segmentation, and ritual application.