Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 169

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

Devanagari script

मूर्ध्नि कपोले भ्रूमध्ये नेत्रयोः कर्णयोर्नसोः । वदने चिबुके कंठे दोर्मूले विन्यसेत्क्रमात् ॥ १६९ ॥

Transliteration

mūrdhni kapole bhrūmadhye netrayoḥ karṇayornasoḥ | vadane cibuke kaṃṭhe dormūle vinyasetkramāt || 169 ||

Translation

Dans l’ordre, qu’on établisse (nyāsa) sur le sommet de la tête, les joues, l’espace entre les sourcils, les yeux, les oreilles, le nez, la bouche, le menton, la gorge et les racines des bras.

Word by Word

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head/crown
• मूर्ध्नि: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular) — irregular locative

• कपोले: on the cheek
• कपोले: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपोल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भ्रूमध्ये: between the eyebrows
• भ्रूमध्ये: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भ्रुवोः मध्ये = 'between the eyebrows')

• नेत्रयोः: of the two eyes
• नेत्रयोः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन (Dual) — 'of the two eyes'

• कर्णयोः: of the two ears
• कर्णयोः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन (Dual) — 'of the two ears'

• नसोः: of the two nostrils
• नसोः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन (Dual) — 'of the two nostrils'

• वदने: in the mouth/face
• वदने: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• चिबुके: in the chin
• चिबुके: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिबुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कण्ठे: in the throat
• कण्ठे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दोर्-मूले: at the root of the arms
• दोर्-मूले: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोर् (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दोर्-मूल = 'root of the arm')

• विन्यसेत्: should place/arrange
• विन्यसेत्: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नि + अस् (धातु) [= विन्यस्/विन्यस्यति in usage]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद — 'should place/arrange'

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययवत् (instrumental used adverbially) — 'in order'

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual instruction flow, traditionally within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framing)

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 nyāsa (mantra-installation) sequence, sanctifying the practitioner’s body as a fit locus for mantra and worship by placing the mantra’s presence in specific bodily points.

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

By prescribing orderly bodily consecration before worship, it supports bhakti as a regulated practice—preparing the senses and speech (eyes, ears, mouth, throat) to be aligned with reverent remembrance and recitation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual-technical procedure (prayoga) connected with mantra-vidhi and śikṣā-style concerns for correct placement and sequence, emphasizing precision (kramāt) in embodied practice.