Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 187

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

Devanagari script

लिखेद्वसुदलं पद्मं साध्याख्यायुतकर्णिकम् । दलेऽष्टकोणमालिख्य मालामन्त्रेण वेष्टयेत् ॥ १८७ ॥

Transliteration

likhedvasudalaṃ padmaṃ sādhyākhyāyutakarṇikam | dale'ṣṭakoṇamālikhya mālāmantreṇa veṣṭayet || 187 ||

Translation

Qu’on trace un lotus à huit pétales, et qu’en son cœur l’on inscrive le nom du sādhya, l’objet recherché. Sur chaque pétale, qu’on dessine un octogone, puis qu’on l’entoure du Mālā-mantra, le Mantra de la Guirlande.

Word by Word

• लिखेत्: should draw
• लिखेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• वसु-दलम्: eight-petalled
• वसु-दलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक) + दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (संख्यावाची) — ‘वसु’ = 8, ‘अष्टदलम्’

• पद्मम्: lotus (diagram)
• पद्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• साध्य-आख्या-आयुत-कर्णिकम्: having a central pericarp marked/associated with the name ‘Sādhya’
• साध्य-आख्या-आयुत-कर्णिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुत (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् पद्मम् प्रति; अर्थः—‘साध्याख्यया आयुता (युक्ता) कर्णिका यस्य’ (center furnished with the name ‘Sādhya’)

• दले: in/on a petal
• दले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• अष्ट-कोणम्: an octagon
• अष्ट-कोणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—‘अष्टकोणः’ (octagon)

• आलिख्य: having drawn
• आलिख्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + लिख् (धातु) → आलिख्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालक्रिया

• माला-मन्त्रेण: with the Mālā-mantra
• माला-मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माला (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘मालायाः मन्त्रः’

• वेष्टयेत्: should encircle / wrap
• वेष्टयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches a precise upāsanā-method: the sādhaka externalizes the intended spiritual or worldly aim (sādhya) into a regulated yantra-form (eight-petalled lotus) and empowers it through mantra-encirclement, indicating disciplined, mantra-guided concentration.

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

While technical, it supports bhakti-upāsanā by giving a structured way to focus the mind on the chosen deity/aim; the mālā-mantra acts as a devotional “protective and enclosing” recitation that steadies remembrance and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical ritual knowledge aligned with Vedāṅga-style precision—diagrammatic inscription (lekhana), geometric placement (aṣṭakoṇa), and mantra application (mālā-mantra) as part of correct procedural vidhi.