Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

हृदि चांसद्वये नाभिकुक्षौ पृष्ठेऽथ वक्षसि । अथोरसि कला न्यस्येदष्टौ मंत्री यथाविधि ॥ ७० ॥

Transliteration

hṛdi cāṃsadvaye nābhikukṣau pṛṣṭhe'tha vakṣasi | athorasi kalā nyasyedaṣṭau maṃtrī yathāvidhi || 70 ||

Translation

Ensuite, dans le cœur, sur les deux épaules, au nombril et au ventre, sur le dos et sur la poitrine—ainsi sur le torse—celui qui connaît les mantras doit, selon la règle prescrite, accomplir le nyāsa des huit kalās (puissances divines).

Word by Word

• hṛdi: in the heart
• hṛdi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• aṃsa-dvaye: on the pair of shoulders
• aṃsa-dvaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + dvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (aṃsayor dvaye)

• nābhi-kukṣau: in the navel and the belly
• nābhi-kukṣau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nābhi (प्रातिपदिक) + kukṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (nābhi) + पुंलिङ्ग (kukṣi) द्वन्द्व-समास; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), द्विवचन

• pṛṣṭhe: on the back
• pṛṣṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अनन्तर-अव्यय (then/next)

• vakṣasi: on the chest
• vakṣasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अनन्तर-अव्यय (then/next)

• urasi: on the breast
• urasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• kalāḥ: the kalās (parts/energies)
• kalāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन

• nyasyet: should place
• nyasyet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः—स्थापयेत्/न्यसेत् (should place)

• aṣṭau: eight
• aṣṭau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (agreeing with kalāḥ)

• maṃtrī: the mantra-practitioner
• maṃtrī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• yathā-vidhi: according to the prescribed rule
• yathā-vidhi: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverbial) अर्थः—विधिपूर्वकं (according to rule)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to 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 internal consecration (nyāsa): the practitioner sanctifies the body by placing eight divine kalās at specific loci, making the body a fit seat for mantra-japa and worship.

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

By prescribing disciplined, reverent preparation of the body for worship, it supports bhakti as a practiced devotion—devotional feeling is joined with correct ritual method (yathāvidhi) to focus the mind on the deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa/ritual science: rule-governed procedures for mantra-application (nyāsa), including precise bodily locations and the requirement of a qualified mantrī (mantra-competent practitioner).