Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

नमोंतो बाणषङ्वर्णैः किरीटमनुरीरितः । एवं न्यासविधिं कृत्वा ध्यायेन्नारायणं विभुम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

namoṃto bāṇaṣaṅvarṇaiḥ kirīṭamanurīritaḥ | evaṃ nyāsavidhiṃ kṛtvā dhyāyennārāyaṇaṃ vibhum || 31 ||

Translation

Le mantra de la couronne est énoncé selon l’ordre des syllabes, commençant par « namo » et avec l’ensemble des lettres « bāṇa » et « ṣaṅ ». Ainsi, après avoir accompli la méthode du nyāsa, qu’on médite sur Nārāyaṇa, le Seigneur qui pénètre tout.

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/utterance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नमः-शब्दः अव्ययीभाववत्; interjection/particle of salutation

• अन्तः: within/at the end
• अन्तः: Desha (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थान-अव्यय (inside/at the end)

• बाण-षट्-वर्णैः: with the six ‘bāṇa’ syllables
• बाण-षट्-वर्णैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक) + षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; instrumental ‘with the six syllables/letters (called bāṇa)’

• किरीट-मन्-उः: the ‘kirīṭa’ mantra
• किरीट-मन्-उः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरीट (प्रातिपदिक) + मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘kirīṭa-mantra’ (manuḥ)

• ईरितः: is stated/declared
• ईरितः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/description)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईरित (कृदन्त; √ईर्/√ईरय्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; past passive participle ‘is declared/uttered’

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• न्यास-विधिम्: the procedure of nyāsa
• न्यास-विधिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यास (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having done’

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate
• ध्यायेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada; ‘should meditate’

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object

• विभुम्: the all-powerful/pervading
• विभुम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective qualifying नारायणम्

Speaker

Narada (in an instructional passage, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that ritualized mantra-placement (nyāsa) culminates in direct contemplation of Nārāyaṇa, making external procedure a preparation for internal, focused devotion.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined remembrance: after sanctifying the body-mind through nyāsa, the devotee fixes awareness on Nārāyaṇa as the supreme, all-pervading Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-śāstra and ritual technique—especially the structured use of syllable-sets (varṇas) for nyāsa—showing applied sacred phonetics and procedure used in Purāṇic worship.