Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 174

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

Devanagari script

पुनः षडंगं कृत्वाथ ध्यायेत्कृष्णं हृदंबुजे । द्वारवत्यां सहस्रार्कभास्वरैर्भवनोत्तमैः ॥ १७४ ॥

Transliteration

punaḥ ṣaḍaṃgaṃ kṛtvātha dhyāyetkṛṣṇaṃ hṛdaṃbuje | dvāravatyāṃ sahasrārkabhāsvarairbhavanottamaiḥ || 174 ||

Translation

Ensuite, après avoir de nouveau accompli la pratique aux six membres (ṣaḍaṅga), qu’on médite sur Kṛṣṇa dans le lotus du cœur—le contemplant à Dvāravatī, au milieu des palais les plus sublimes, rayonnant comme mille soleils.

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)

• षड्-अङ्गम्: the six-limbed (rite); six parts
• षड्-अङ्गम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (Dvigu), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having done’

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (Sequential particle)

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate
• ध्यायेत्: विधेय (Vidhi/Instructional action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• कृष्णम्: Krishna
• कृष्णम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• हृद्-अम्बुजे: in the heart-lotus
• हृद्-अम्बुजे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद्/हृदय (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• द्वारवत्याम्: in Dvāravatī
• द्वारवत्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारवती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• सहस्र-अर्क-भास्वरैः: with (things) shining like a thousand suns
• सहस्र-अर्क-भास्वरैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument or accompaniment)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + भास्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भवन-उत्तमैः: with excellent mansions/palaces
• भवन-उत्तमैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument or accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Dvaravati (Dvaraka)

FAQs

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

It teaches a structured, repeatable contemplative procedure: after completing a formal six-part discipline, the practitioner internalizes Kṛṣṇa as the indwelling Lord in the heart-lotus, using a vivid sacred geography (Dvārakā) to stabilize devotion and concentration.

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

Bhakti is expressed as loving, focused remembrance (dhyāna) of Kṛṣṇa—not abstractly, but with form, abode, and splendor—so the mind becomes absorbed in His divine presence and qualities.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects prayoga-style technical instruction: a sequenced discipline (“again perform ṣaḍaṅga, then meditate”), typical of ritual-technical and yogic methodologies aligned with Vedanga-oriented practice and precise procedural order.