Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

द्विषट्ह्यष्टदशकलाव्याप्तानि च तथा मतः । भूताष्टां गाक्षिपदगैर्वर्णैः प्रग्विन्न्यसेद्धृदि ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

dviṣaṭhyaṣṭadaśakalāvyāptāni ca tathā mataḥ | bhūtāṣṭāṃ gākṣipadagairvarṇaiḥ pragvinnyaseddhṛdi || 17 ||

Translation

On tient aussi que ceux-ci imprègnent les dix-huit kalā ; et les huit bhūta doivent être placés dans le cœur, en disposant correctement les syllabes commençant par « ga » ainsi que celles désignées par les groupes « akṣi » et « pada ».

Word by Word

• द्वि-षट्-हि-अष्टादश-कलाः: the (two, six, and eighteen) kalās (parts)
• द्वि-षट्-हि-अष्टादश-कलाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + हि (अव्यय) + अष्टादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; nominative plural; संख्यासमास-प्रायः (dvigu)

• व्याप्तानि: pervaded/filled
• व्याप्तानि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √आप् (धातु) + त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; agrees with implied neuter plural ‘(तानि)’

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (in that manner/likewise)

• मतः: is considered
• मतः: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √मन् (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP) ‘मत’ = considered; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; used predicatively (‘is considered’)

• भूत-अष्टाम्: the set of eight elements
• भूत-अष्टाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्ट (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular; ‘the eight elements/beings’

• ग-अक्षि-पद-गैः: with the letters ‘ga, akṣi, pada, ga’ (as a set)
• ग-अक्षि-पद-गैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग (प्रातिपदिक/वर्ण) + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक/वर्ण) + पद (प्रातिपदिक/वर्ण) + ग (प्रातिपदिक/वर्ण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; वर्णसमूह-द्वन्द्व

• वर्णैः: with letters/syllables
• वर्णैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; instrumental plural

• प्राक्-वत्: as previously
• प्राक्-वत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय) + वत् (तद्धित/अव्ययार्थ)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; क्रियाविशेषण—पूर्ववत् (as before)

• न्यसेत्: should place/assign
• न्यसेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√अस्/न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; parasmaipada

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; locative singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical Vedanga/nyasa context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It presents a disciplined inner-ritual (nyāsa) where elemental principles are mentally installed in the heart using ordered syllabic patterns, linking inner purification with Vedic phonetic precision.

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

While primarily technical, it supports bhakti by prescribing an internal consecration of the body-mind (especially the heart) so mantra-japa and Vishnu-oriented worship can be performed with steadiness and sanctity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Śikṣā/Vedāṅga-based phonetic ordering of varṇas (syllables) and the ritual method of nyāsa—placing mantra/elemental correspondences in specific inner locations.