Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 109

Hanumān-mantra-kathana: Mantra-bheda, Nyāsa, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

शिखायां वायुपुत्रायाग्निगर्भाय वर्मणि । रामदूताय नेत्रं स्याद्बह्यास्त्रायास्त्रमीरितम् ॥ १०९ ॥

Transliteration

śikhāyāṃ vāyuputrāyāgnigarbhāya varmaṇi | rāmadūtāya netraṃ syādbahyāstrāyāstramīritam || 109 ||

Translation

Sur la mèche sommitale (śikhā), qu’on place par nyāsa la puissance du fils de Vāyu ; sur l’armure protectrice (varman), celle du Né du Feu. Pour les yeux (netra), il est dit : le messager de Rāma. Ainsi est proclamée l’arme extérieure (bahyāstra), avec le mantra de l’arme prescrit.

Word by Word

• शिखायाम्: in/on the topknot (śikhā)
• शिखायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• वायु-पुत्राय: to the son of Vāyu
• वायु-पुत्राय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘वायोः पुत्रः’

• अग्नि-गर्भाय: to Agni-garbha (fire-wombed; epithet)
• अग्नि-गर्भाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः: ‘अग्निरिव गर्भः/अग्निः गर्भे यस्य’ (epithet)

• वर्मणि: in the armor (protective sheath)
• वर्मणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• राम-दूताय: to Rāma’s messenger
• राम-दूताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘रामस्य दूतः’

• नेत्रम्: the eye (nyāsa position)
• नेत्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: Optative/Potential (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• बहिः: outside; external
• बहिः: Visheshana (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• अस्त्राय: for the weapon (astra)
• अस्त्राय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• अस्त्रम्: the weapon
• अस्त्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ईरितम्: is stated/uttered
• ईरितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर्/ईरय् (धातु) → ईरित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with ‘अस्त्रम्’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on mantra-nyasa and protective rites)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman (Vayuputra, Ramaduta)
• Agni
• Vayu
• Rama

FAQs

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

It teaches protective mantra-nyāsa: placing specific divine energies on body-points (śikhā, varman, eyes) so the practitioner becomes guarded by dharmic forces—especially Hanumān’s vigilant protection and the purifying fire-principle.

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

By invoking Hanumān explicitly as Rāma’s messenger, the protection is framed through Rāma-bhakti: devotion becomes a living safeguard, where the devotee’s senses (eyes) are consecrated to serve and perceive through the Lord’s devotee.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual science—nyāsa and kavacha methodology—showing how mantras are assigned to specific limbs/sense-organs as part of rakṣā-vidhi (protective procedure), a technical discipline aligned with mantra-prayoga traditions.