Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

शिरोललाटे भ्रूमध्ये कर्णयोश्चक्षुषोस्तथा । घ्राणयोर्वदने कंठे हृदि नाभौ तथा पुनः ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

śirolalāṭe bhrūmadhye karṇayoścakṣuṣostathā | ghrāṇayorvadane kaṃṭhe hṛdi nābhau tathā punaḥ || 28 ||

Translation

Sur la tête et le front ; au milieu des sourcils ; aux deux oreilles et aussi aux deux yeux ; dans les narines, dans la bouche, dans la gorge, dans le cœur, et de nouveau au nombril — qu’on y établisse (par nyāsa).

Word by Word

• śiras-lalāṭe: on the head/forehead region
• śiras-lalāṭe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक) + lalāṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन); locative of place

• bhrū-madhye: in the middle of the eyebrows
• bhrū-madhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrū (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• karṇayoḥ: in/on the two ears
• karṇayoḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Dvivacana (द्विवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• cakṣuṣoḥ: in/on the two eyes
• cakṣuṣoḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakṣus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Dvivacana (द्विवचन)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• ghrāṇayoḥ: in/on the two nostrils
• ghrāṇayoḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghrāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Dvivacana (द्विवचन)

• vadane: in the mouth/face
• vadane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• kaṇṭhe: in the throat
• kaṇṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• hṛdi: in the heart
• hṛdi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• nābhau: in the navel
• nābhau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nābhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• punaḥ: again/further
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (पुनरुक्ति/क्रमवाचक)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/ritual-application context)

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 enumerates key bodily loci used for internal worship—mentally establishing a mantra/deity-presence from the head down to the heart and navel—so attention becomes disciplined and the body is sacralized as a field of sādhana.

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

By directing the practitioner to ‘place’ remembrance in the senses and vital centers, it supports bhakti as continuous inner recollection—devotion that permeates seeing, hearing, breathing, speech, and heartfelt feeling.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

This reflects a technical, procedure-oriented application akin to śikṣā/prayoga traditions: structured mental placement (nyāsa/dhāraṇā) of mantra across specified points to stabilize recitation and contemplative ritual practice.