Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 186

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

Devanagari script

गजस्थं तं ध्वजं दृष्ट्वा पलायन्तेऽरयो ध्रुवम् । महारक्षाकरं यन्त्रं वक्ष्ये सम्यग्धनूमतः ॥ १८६ ॥

Transliteration

gajasthaṃ taṃ dhvajaṃ dṛṣṭvā palāyante'rayo dhruvam | mahārakṣākaraṃ yantraṃ vakṣye samyagdhanūmataḥ || 186 ||

Translation

À la vue de cet étendard dressé sur un éléphant, les ennemis s’enfuient à coup sûr. À présent, j’exposerai comme il convient le grand yantra de protection, tel que l’a enseigné Dhanūmata.

Word by Word

• गज-स्थम्: situated on the elephant
• गज-स्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘गजे स्थितम्’; विशेषणम् ध्वजम् प्रति

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेषणम् ध्वजम् प्रति

• ध्वजम्: banner
• ध्वजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (कृदन्त, त्वा)
• Form: त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालक्रिया

• पलायन्ते: flee
• पलायन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पलाय् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• अरयः: enemies
• अरयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) निश्चयार्थक

• महा-रक्षा-करम्: producing great protection
• महा-रक्षा-करम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘महारक्षां करोति’

• यन्त्रम्: yantra / device
• यन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• वक्ष्ये: I shall tell
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• धनूमतः: of the bowman / of one possessing a bow
• धनूमतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Dhanumata

FAQs

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

The verse frames sacred technology (rakṣā-yantra and dhvaja) as a dharmic means of protection—where properly taught and correctly applied ritual knowledge is said to dispel fear and hostile forces.

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

Bhakti is implied through reliance on sanctioned, tradition-backed methods (taught by an authority like Dhanūmata) rather than mere force; protection is approached as sacred order (dharma) supported by disciplined practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical, procedural instruction—“samyak” (in correct sequence)—typical of Vedāṅga-style application: how a protective yantra/rite is transmitted by an expert lineage and implemented with precision.