Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

अंगानि मंत्रवर्णैः स्युराद्येन हृदुदीरितम् । ततश्चतृर्भिः शीर्षं स्याच्छिखा त्रिभिरुदीरिता ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

aṃgāni maṃtravarṇaiḥ syurādyena hṛdudīritam | tataścatṛrbhiḥ śīrṣaṃ syācchikhā tribhirudīritā || 74 ||

Translation

Les membres (dans le nyāsa) doivent être assignés par les syllabes du mantra. Avec la première syllabe, on touche et on invoque le Cœur; puis, avec quatre (syllabes), on assigne la Tête; et avec trois (syllabes), on assigne la śikhā (touffe), selon l’ordonnance.

Word by Word

• aṃgāni: limbs; parts
• aṃgāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• maṃtra-varṇaiḥ: by the mantra-syllables
• maṃtra-varṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṃtra + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘by mantra-letters/syllables’

• syuḥ: would be; should be
• syuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ādyena: by the first (one)
• ādyena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental ‘by the first’

• hṛt: heart
• hṛt: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; stem hṛd → hṛt (sandhi form)

• udīritam: uttered; declared
• udīritam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udīrita (कृदन्त; √īr उद्+ईर्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; past passive participle (क्त)

• tataḥ: then; thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (adverb: ‘then/from that’)

• catṛrbhiḥ: with four (syllables)
• catṛrbhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; numeral ‘with four’

• śīrṣam: head
• śīrṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• syāt: would be; should be
• syāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• śikhā: topknot; crest
• śikhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tribhiḥ: with three (syllables)
• tribhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; numeral

• udīritā: is uttered/formed
• udīritā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udīrita (कृदन्त; √īr उद्+ईर्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; past passive participle (क्त) agreeing with śikhā

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches nyāsa—the sacralization of the practitioner’s body by installing mantra-syllables—so the body becomes a fit vessel for mantra-japa and worship, aligning inner awareness with the deity invoked by the mantra.

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

By prescribing mantra-placement on the heart, head, and śikhā, it frames devotion as embodied practice: bhakti is not only emotion but disciplined ritual attention that dedicates mind (head) and feeling (heart) to the deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-śāstra and ritual procedure (prayoga) are emphasized—specifically the technical sequencing and syllable-count allocation used in nyāsa, a practical application closely tied to Śikṣā (correct utterance) and Kalpa (ritual method).