Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

अतः स्मरं समालिख्य षट्कोणेषु समालिखेत् । नवार्णैर्वेष्टयेत्तञ्च त्रिकोणं तद्बहिः पुनः ॥ ७० ॥

Transliteration

ataḥ smaraṃ samālikhya ṣaṭkoṇeṣu samālikhet | navārṇairveṣṭayettañca trikoṇaṃ tadbahiḥ punaḥ || 70 ||

Translation

Ensuite, qu’on dessine d’abord Smara (Kāma) et qu’on l’inscrive dans le ṣaṭkoṇa. Puis qu’on l’entoure du navārṇa-mantra aux neuf syllabes, et qu’on trace encore un triangle à l’extérieur.

Word by Word

• अतः: thereafter
• अतः: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय (Discourse/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/अनन्तरार्थे अव्यय (thereafter/thereupon)

• स्मरम्: Smara (Kāma)
• स्मरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्

• समालिख्य: having drawn
• समालिख्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-लिख् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), 'having drawn'

• षट्कोणेषु: in the hexagons
• षट्कोणेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः

• समालिखेत्: should draw/inscribe
• समालिखेत्: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-लिख् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• नव-अर्णैः: with nine syllables
• नव-अर्णैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः (नवानि अर्णानि = nine syllables/letters)

• वेष्टयेत्: should encircle
• वेष्टयेत्: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• तत्: that (it)
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• त्रिकोणम्: a triangle
• त्रिकोणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः

• तत्: that (same)
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (referring to the yantra/figure)

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: देशाधिकरण (Deśa-adhikaraṇa/Place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (spatial adverb)

• पुनः: again, further
• पुनः: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय (Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति/अनुवृत्ति-अव्यय (again/further)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a technical ritual/yantra context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Smara (Kama)

FAQs

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

It teaches a precise upāsanā-vidhi: sacred geometry (ṣaṭkoṇa, trikoṇa) is combined with mantra (navārṇa) to contain and sanctify a specific power (here symbolized by Smara), indicating disciplined ritual control rather than ordinary desire.

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

Although technical, it supports bhakti through regulated worship: the devotee approaches divine energies via prescribed yantra–mantra order, emphasizing reverence, purity of method, and focused contemplation rather than impulsive emotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual science—mantra application (navārṇa), diagrammatic placement (yantra-lekhana), and procedural sequencing used in upāsanā; this aligns with technical disciplines preserved alongside śrauta/smārta ritual knowledge.