Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

चतुर्भिर्नयनं तद्वदस्त्रमेकेन कीर्तितम् । दृक्श्रोत्रनासाद्वितये जिह्वाहृन्नाभिगुह्यके ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

caturbhirnayanaṃ tadvadastramekena kīrtitam | dṛkśrotranāsādvitaye jihvāhṛnnābhiguhyake || 44 ||

Translation

On dit que l’œil est représenté par quatre (signes/unités) ; de même, l’astra, l’arme, par un seul. Cela s’applique aux organes de perception—œil, oreille et les deux narines—ainsi qu’à la langue, au cœur, au nombril et à l’organe secret.

Word by Word

• चतुर्भिः: with four (syllables)
• चतुर्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; करण

• नयनम्: the eyes/seeing (nayana)
• नयनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: उपमानार्थक अव्यय (likewise/in the same way)

• अस्त्रम्: the weapon-mantra (astra)
• अस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• एकेन: with one (syllable)
• एकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करण

• कीर्तितम्: is declared/mentioned
• कीर्तितम्: Kriya (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्तित (कृदन्त; √कीर्त्/√कीर् ‘to mention’)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (अस्त्रम् इत्यस्य विधानम्)

• दृक्-श्रोत्र-नासा-द्वितये: in the pair(s) of eyes, ears, and nose
• दृक्-श्रोत्र-नासा-द्वितये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृक् (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रोत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + नासा (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वितय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location)

• जिह्वा-हृत्-नाभि-गुह्यके: in the tongue, heart, navel, and genital region
• जिह्वा-हृत्-नाभि-गुह्यके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक) + हृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + नाभि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुह्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective) अधिकरण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It encodes a technical mapping between mantra/ritual counts and bodily loci, implying that disciplined practice sanctifies the senses and vital centers, turning perception and embodiment into a regulated spiritual instrument.

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

By prescribing orderly placement/recognition of sacred measures in the sense-organs and inner centers, it supports bhakti as embodied devotion—training the senses to become fit vessels for remembrance and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A Shiksha/ritual-technical style of enumeration used in nyasa-like applications—assigning counts or markers (e.g., ‘four’, ‘one’) to specific organs for structured recitation and ritual procedure.