Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 167

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

Devanagari script

आकर्षणपदा गच्छदागच्छहृदयांतिमः । अनेन व्यापकं कृत्वा जगन्नाथं स्मरेत् सुधीः ॥ १६७ ॥

Transliteration

ākarṣaṇapadā gacchadāgacchahṛdayāṃtimaḥ | anena vyāpakaṃ kṛtvā jagannāthaṃ smaret sudhīḥ || 167 ||

Translation

Après avoir placé (le mantra) au point de « l’attraction », puis aux points du « départ et du retour », en s’achevant dans le cœur, le sage doit, par ce moyen, en imprégner tout le corps et se souvenir de Jagannātha, Seigneur de l’univers.

Word by Word

• आकर्षण-पदा: having attractive steps/feet
• आकर्षण-पदा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकर्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st case), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समासः (Tatpurusha): ‘आकर्षणस्य पदम्’ → ‘आकर्षणपद’ (attractive/attracting step/foot)

• गच्छत्-आगच्छ-हृदय-अन्तिमः: the innermost in the hearts of those who come and go
• गच्छत्-आगच्छ-हृदय-अन्तिमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गच्छत् (कृदन्त) + आ-गम् (धातु) → आगच्छ (कृदन्त/आदेश) + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘गच्छताम् आगच्छतां (वा) हृदयस्य अन्तिमः’ = ‘the innermost of the hearts of those who go and come’

• अनेन: by this (means)
• अनेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• व्यापकं: all-pervading (as object of making/visualizing)
• व्यापकं: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यापक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्म-विशेषण (object-qualifier)

• कृत्वा: having made (having visualized/formed)
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal adjunct)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive, indeclinable): ‘having done/made’

• जगत्-नाथं: Jagannatha (Lord of the world)
• जगत्-नाथं: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः: ‘जगतः नाथः’ = Lord of the world

• स्मरेत्: should remember/meditate upon
• स्मरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः: ‘सु (good) + धी (intellect)’ → ‘one of good intellect’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/ritual-technical context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Jagannatha
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches an internalized ritual-meditative technique: placing the mantra through specific stations and concluding in the heart, so remembrance of Jagannatha becomes continuous and body-pervading.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as smaraṇa (remembrance): the devotee uses a disciplined mantra-nyāsa to make the Lord’s presence felt throughout one’s being, culminating in heart-centered devotion to Jagannatha.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical prayoga aligned with Vedanga-style discipline—mantra-nyāsa and dhyāna sequencing (movement/placement ending at the heart), emphasizing correct internal procedure rather than mere recitation.