Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

दक्षपादे वामपादे सक्थ्नि जानुनि जंघयोः । विन्यसेद्बीजदशकं प्रणवद्वयमध्यगम् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

dakṣapāde vāmapāde sakthni jānuni jaṃghayoḥ | vinyasedbījadaśakaṃ praṇavadvayamadhyagam || 14 ||

Translation

Sur le pied droit et le pied gauche, sur la cuisse, sur le genou et sur les tibias, qu’on pose (nyāsa) l’ensemble des dix syllabes-semences, placé entre deux récitations du praṇava (Oṁ).

Word by Word

• दक्षपादे: in the right foot
• दक्षपादे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular; ‘in the right foot’

• वामपादे: in the left foot
• वामपादे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular

• सक्थ्नि: in the thigh
• सक्थ्नि: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सक्थि/सक्थन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular (irregular stem)

• जानुनि: in the knee
• जानुनि: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular

• जंघयोः: in the two shanks
• जंघयोः: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी विभक्ति, द्विवचन; genitive/locative dual; here locative sense ‘in the two shanks’

• विन्यसेत्: should place
• विन्यसेत्: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु) → विन्यस् (धातु-आदेश)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should place/arrange’

• बीजदशकम्: the set of ten seed-syllables
• बीजदशकम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज + दशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular; ‘set of ten seed-syllables’

• प्रणवद्वयमध्यगम्: placed between two praṇavas (OMs)
• प्रणवद्वयमध्यगम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणव + द्वय + मध्य + ग (धातु) → गम् (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: समासान्त कृदन्त-विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘situated in the middle of the two praṇavas’ qualifying बीजदशकम्

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Pranava (Om)

FAQs

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

It teaches nyāsa—sanctifying the body as a mantra-seat—by assigning seed-syllables to specific limbs, framed by the praṇava (Oṁ) to invoke and seal sacred power in the practitioner.

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

Though technical, it supports bhakti-upāsanā by preparing the body and mind for focused worship; placing mantras with Oṁ helps steady attention and dedicate the limbs to the deity’s service.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied mantra-vidyā and ritual procedure (prayoga): limb-based nyāsa and the rule of bracketing a mantra-set with praṇava for correct recitation and deployment.