Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

The Exposition of Nṛsiṁha Worship-Mantras, Nyāsa, Mudrās, Yantras, Kavaca, and Nṛsiṁha Gāyatrī

Devanagari script

गले पार्श्वद्वये पृष्ठे ककुद्यर्णान्मनूद्भवान् । प्रणवान्तरितान् कृत्वा न्यसेत्साधकसत्तमः ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

gale pārśvadvaye pṛṣṭhe kakudyarṇānmanūdbhavān | praṇavāntaritān kṛtvā nyasetsādhakasattamaḥ || 19 ||

Translation

Le meilleur des pratiquants doit accomplir le nyāsa en plaçant, sur la gorge, sur les deux flancs et sur le dos, les syllabes issues de Manu, chacune étant séparée (précédée) par le praṇava «Oṁ».

Word by Word

• गले: on the neck/throat
• गले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पार्श्व-द्वये: on both sides (flanks)
• पार्श्व-द्वये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (पार्श्वयोः द्वयम्)

• पृष्ठे: on the back
• पृष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ककुदि: on the hump/upper back
• ककुदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ककुद्/ककुदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (ककुदि = on the hump/upper back)

• अर्णान्: syllables
• अर्णान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मनु-उद्भवान्: born from Manu (mantric syllables)
• मनु-उद्भवान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from उद्-√भू)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (मनुना उद्भवाः) — qualifying ‘अर्णान्’

• प्रणव-अन्तरितान्: interspersed with the praṇava (oṃ)
• प्रणव-अन्तरितान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तरित (कृदन्त, अन्तर्-√इ ‘to go between’/अन्तर्-√धा ‘to interpose’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण ‘अन्तरित’ (interposed); समासः तत्पुरुषः (प्रणवेन अन्तरिताः)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund) ‘having done/made’

• न्यसेत्: should place (perform nyāsa)
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√अस्/न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; अर्थः ‘should place/assign (nyāsa)’

• साधक-सत्तमः: the best practitioner
• साधक-सत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (साधकानां सत्तमः)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (in instruction to Nārada on mantra-nyāsa procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Praṇava (Oṁ)
• Manu

FAQs

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

It teaches a precise nyāsa method: sanctifying specific body-points by installing mantra-syllables, each joined with Oṁ, so the practitioner’s body becomes a fit vessel for japa and worship.

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

By prescribing mantra-nyāsa, it supports bhakti as disciplined worship: devotion is strengthened through correct mantra-vidhi, where Oṁ-centered placement prepares the sādhaka for focused remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-vidhi and śikṣā-oriented precision: correct use of praṇava with mantra-syllables and their ritual placement (nyāsa), reflecting technical liturgical practice emphasized in Book 1.3.