Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

हृदंतिमादिकांतार्णमपराद्यानि चात्मने । मत्यंतानि च तत्वानि जीवाद्यानि न्यसेत्क्रमात् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

hṛdaṃtimādikāṃtārṇamaparādyāni cātmane | matyaṃtāni ca tatvāni jīvādyāni nyasetkramāt || 11 ||

Translation

En commençant par le cœur et en allant jusqu’à l’extrémité intérieure (le sommet du crâne), pour le bien de l’Ātman, on doit accomplir le nyāsa en déposant les principes supérieurs; et de même, selon l’ordre prescrit, déposer les principes depuis le jīva jusqu’au niveau mortel du corps.

Word by Word

• हृत्-अन्तिम-आदि-क-अन्त-अर्णम्: (the set) ending with hṛt etc., beginning with etc., ending with ‘a’ and ‘ṇa’ (as a group)
• हृत्-अन्तिम-आदि-क-अन्त-अर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तिम (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + क (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (determinative)

• अपर-आद्यानि: the later ones beginning with ‘apara’
• अपर-आद्यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘अपर’ = later/other + ‘आदि’ = beginning

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आत्मने: for the self
• आत्मने: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• मति-अन्तानि: ending with ‘mati’
• मति-अन्तानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘ending with mati’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्त्वानि: principles/tattvas
• तत्त्वानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• जीव-आद्यानि: beginning with ‘jīva’
• जीव-आद्यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘beginning with jīva’

• न्यसेत्: should place/assign
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense not explicit; ‘to place/assign’

• क्रमात्: in order, sequentially
• क्रमात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the ordered nyāsa of tattvas)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches tattva-nyāsa: internalizing metaphysical principles by placing them in the body from heart to crown, turning ritual into inner realization aimed at the Self.

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

By prescribing ordered inner placement (nyāsa), it supports bhakti as internal worship—making the body a sanctified seat for contemplation and devotion rather than only external rites.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical ritual-yoga procedure—nyāsa done in sequence (kramāt), a precise applied discipline aligned with mantra practice and ritual method.