Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

पाशो मायांकुशं पद्मावर्मास्त्रे कार्तवीपदम् । रेफोवा द्यासनोऽनन्तो वह्निजौ कर्णसंस्थितौ ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

pāśo māyāṃkuśaṃ padmāvarmāstre kārtavīpadam | rephovā dyāsano'nanto vahnijau karṇasaṃsthitau || 8 ||

Translation

इस न्यास/कवच-विधान में पाश, मायाङ्कुश, पद्म, वर्म और अस्त्र तथा ‘कार्तवी’ पद का विन्यास करे। ‘र’ (रेफ) अथवा ‘वा’ वर्ण, ‘द्यासन’, ‘अनन्त’ और अग्नि के दो अक्षर—इनको दोनों कानों में स्थापित करे॥ ८ ॥

Word by Word

• pāśaḥ: noose
• pāśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• māyā-aṃkuśam: the goad of māyā (illusion)
• māyā-aṃkuśam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃkuśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'māyāyāḥ aṃkuśaḥ'

• padmā-varma-astre: in/among the lotus, armor, and weapon
• padmā-varma-astre: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padmā (प्रातिपदिक) + varman (प्रातिपदिक) + astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन); समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective): 'padmā ca varma ca astraṃ ca' (as a set)

• kārtavī-padam: the kārtavī-syllable/word
• kārtavī-padam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārtavī (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'kārtavīyāḥ padam'

• rephaḥ: the letter 'ra' (repha)
• rephaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: repha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/alternative marker (विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय)

• dyā-āsanaḥ: the seat of Dyā (heaven)
• dyā-āsanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dyā (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'dyāyāḥ āsanaḥ'

• anantaḥ: Ananta (the infinite one)
• anantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vahni-jau: the two fire-born ones
• vahni-jau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'vahneḥ jau' = 'born of fire' (two)

• karṇa-saṃsthitau: situated at the ears
• karṇa-saṃsthitau: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsthita (कृदन्त; √sthā धातु)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); past participle (क्त) 'saṃsthita' = 'placed'; सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष sense: 'karṇe/karṇayoḥ saṃsthitau'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the technical procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ananta
• Agni (Vahni)

FAQs

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

It encodes a protective and meditative ‘mapping’ of specific mantra-terms and syllables onto the body (especially the ears), treating sound (akṣara) as a sacred technology that seals the senses and stabilizes awareness during ritual and contemplation.

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

Though technical, it supports bhakti by prescribing a disciplined mantra-protection (kavaca/nyāsa) that safeguards the devotee’s senses and concentration, making sustained remembrance and worship possible without distraction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-vidyā grounded in akṣara-prayoga (precise use of syllables) and nyāsa (ritual placement), aligning with Vedanga-style technical discipline—especially phonetic precision (śikṣā) and formulaic application in ritual practice.