Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 165

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

मंत्रन्यासं ततः कुर्याद्देवताभावसिद्धये । शीर्षे ललाटे भ्रूमध्ये नेत्रयोः कर्णयोस्तथा ॥ १६५ ॥

Transliteration

maṃtranyāsaṃ tataḥ kuryāddevatābhāvasiddhaye | śīrṣe lalāṭe bhrūmadhye netrayoḥ karṇayostathā || 165 ||

Translation

次に、神格との同一（devatā-bhāva）を成就するため、マントラ・ニヤーサ（mantra-nyāsa）を行うべきである。頭頂、額、眉間、両眼、そして同様に両耳に安置する。

Word by Word

• मन्त्र-न्यासम्: mantra-placement (nyāsa)
• मन्त्र-न्यासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + न्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘मन्त्रस्य न्यासः’)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक adverb (‘thereafter/from that’)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवता-भाव-सिद्धये: for the attainment of deity-state
• देवता-भाव-सिद्धये: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Dative purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th case/dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘देवताभावस्य सिद्धिः’ → तस्यै)

• शीर्षे: on the head
• शीर्षे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीर्षन्/शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/locative), एकवचन

• ललाटे: on the forehead
• ललाटे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललाट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/locative), एकवचन

• भ्रू-मध्ये: between the eyebrows
• भ्रू-मध्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘भ्रुवोः मध्ये’)

• नेत्रयोः: in the two eyes
• नेत्रयोः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी/षष्ठी (locative/genitive), द्विवचन; here locative sense ‘in/on the two eyes’

• कर्णयोः: in the two ears
• कर्णयोः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी/षष्ठी (locative/genitive), द्विवचन; here locative sense ‘in/on the two ears’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यतावाचक (‘also/likewise’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a technical/ritual exposition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-nyāsa is not merely recitation but an internalization—installing the mantra in key sense-and-awareness centers to awaken devatā-bhāva (the felt presence/identity with the deity).

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

By directing the practitioner to embody the deity through mantra-nyāsa, it supports bhakti as lived remembrance—making perception (eyes, ears) and consciousness (head/ājñā) instruments of continual devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights a technical upāsanā method used in ritual manuals—nyāsa (mantra placement) as a disciplined procedure connected to mantra-prayoga and śāstra-based ritual science.