Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

अंगुष्ठादिकनिष्ठांतं न्यसेद्देशिकसत्तमः । मूर्द्धास्यहृदयांभोजगुह्यपादे तु ताः पुनः ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

aṃguṣṭhādikaniṣṭhāṃtaṃ nyaseddeśikasattamaḥ | mūrddhāsyahṛdayāṃbhojaguhyapāde tu tāḥ punaḥ || 57 ||

Translation

Le précepteur le plus excellent doit accomplir le nyāsa du pouce jusqu’à l’auriculaire; puis il doit de nouveau placer ces (mantras/énergies) sur la tête, la bouche, le lotus du cœur, la région secrète et les pieds.

Word by Word

• aṅguṣṭha-ādi-kaniṣṭhā-antam: (the sequence) from the thumb up to the little finger
• aṅguṣṭha-ādi-kaniṣṭhā-antam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṅguṣṭha + ādi + kaniṣṭhā + anta (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ending with the little finger, beginning with the thumb)

• nyaset: should place
• nyaset: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni√as (अस्/न्यासे)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• deśika-sattamaḥ: the best preceptor
• deśika-sattamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśika + sat-tama (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (the best teacher)

• mūrdhā-āsya-hṛdaya-ambhoja-guhya-pāde: in the head, mouth, heart-lotus, groin, and foot
• mūrdhā-āsya-hṛdaya-ambhoja-guhya-pāde: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan + āsya + hṛdaya + ambhoja + guhya + pāda (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-समाहार, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः (in the head, mouth, heart-lotus, secret part, and foot)

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• tāḥ: those (kalās/ṛks)
• tāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: again)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual instruction context, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Deśika (Guru/Preceptor)

FAQs

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

It teaches nyāsa—ritual placement of mantra-power—showing that devotion and worship become focused and sanctified when the body is treated as a sacred support for mantra and awareness.

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

By prescribing disciplined nyāsa under a qualified guru, it frames bhakti as both heartfelt and methodical—aligning speech (mouth), mind/feeling (heart), conduct (feet), and overall consecration (head) toward the deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual science—especially mantra-prayoga through kara-nyāsa (finger placement) and aṅga-nyāsa (body placement), a technical discipline aligned with śikṣā (correct recitation) and kalpa-style procedure.