Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

वर्मास्त्राभ्यामस्त्रमुक्तं शेषार्णैर्व्यापकं पुनः । हृदये जठरे नाभौ जठरे गुह्यदेशतः ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

varmāstrābhyāmastramuktaṃ śeṣārṇairvyāpakaṃ punaḥ | hṛdaye jaṭhare nābhau jaṭhare guhyadeśataḥ || 13 ||

Translation

Après avoir ainsi lancé l’« Astra » (mantra-arme) avec le « Varma » (mantra-armure), qu’on accomplisse de nouveau la pose protectrice, toute pénétrante, avec les syllabes restantes : au cœur, au ventre, au nombril, de nouveau au ventre, et dans la région secrète (au-dessous).

Word by Word

• वर्मास्त्राभ्याम्: by (the) armor and weapon
• वर्मास्त्राभ्याम्: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्म + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति, द्विवचन; instrumental dual (3rd case)

• अस्त्रम्: weapon (missile)
• अस्त्रम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular (2nd case)

• उक्तम्: uttered/recited
• उक्तम्: कर्मणि प्रयोगे विशेषण (PPP as predicate/qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; past passive participle ‘said/uttered’ agreeing with अस्त्रम्

• शेषार्णैः: with the remaining syllables
• शेषार्णैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; instrumental plural (3rd case); ‘with the remaining syllables/letters’

• व्यापकम्: all-pervading
• व्यापकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यापक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular; qualifying अस्त्रम्

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• हृदये: in the heart
• हृदये: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular (7th case)

• जठरे: in the belly
• जठरे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जठर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular

• नाभौ: in the navel
• नाभौ: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular (7th case)

• जठरे: in the belly
• जठरे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जठर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular (repeated)

• गुह्यदेशतः: from the groin-region
• गुह्यदेशतः: अपादान (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गुह्य + देश (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्ययप्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb); ‘from the region of the groin/secret part’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches a disciplined method of inner protection: by placing mantra-syllables into key bodily centers, the practitioner ritualizes awareness and invokes a ‘vyāpaka’ (all-covering) safeguard.

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

Though technical, the practice supports Bhakti by creating a protected, focused inner field for worship—so the devotee’s mind and senses remain steady for sustained remembrance and mantra-japa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied mantra-vidhi and nyāsa (ritual placement), a technical discipline closely tied to correct phonetic syllable-use (Śikṣā) and precise ritual procedure (Kalpa).