Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

ततः प्रविन्यसेद्विद्वानष्टत्रिंशत्कलास्तनौ । ईशानाद्या ऋचः सम्यगंगुलीषु यथाक्रमात् ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ pravinyasedvidvānaṣṭatriṃśatkalāstanau | īśānādyā ṛcaḥ samyagaṃgulīṣu yathākramāt || 56 ||

Translation

ನಂತರ ವಿದ್ಯಾವಂತ ಸಾಧಕನು ದೇಹದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಷ್ಟತ್ರಿಂಶತ್ ಕಲಗಳನ್ನು ಜಾಗ್ರತೆಯಿಂದ ನ್ಯಾಸ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು; ಈಶಾನದಿಂದ ಆರಂಭಿಸಿ ಋಚ್ಛಂದಸ್ಸುಗಳನ್ನು ಬೆರಳುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ರಮವಾಗಿ ನಿಯೋಜಿಸಬೇಕು।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: thereafter)

• pra-vinyaset: should place/assign
• pra-vinyaset: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni√as (अस्/न्यासे) with pra+vi upasarga
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; धातुः: नि+अस् (to place/assign)

• vidvān: the learned one
• vidvān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidvas (प्रातिपदिक; √vid-ज्ञाने)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेष्य-कर्ता

• aṣṭa-triṃśat-kalāḥ: the thirty-eight kalās
• aṣṭa-triṃśat-kalāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭa + triṃśat + kalā (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (thirty-eight arts/parts)

• tanau: in the body
• tanau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• īśāna-ādyāḥ: beginning with Īśāna
• īśāna-ādyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īśāna + ādi (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (beginning with Īśāna)

• ṛcaḥ: the ṛks (Vedic verses)
• ṛcaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: properly)

• aṅgulīṣu: on/in the fingers
• aṅgulīṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgulī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• yathā-kramāt: in order
• yathā-kramāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + krama (अव्यय + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ishana

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined mantra-application: spiritual power is stabilized when inner energies (kalās) and Vedic mantras are installed in the body through correct nyāsa and sequence.

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

Though technical, it supports bhakti-oriented worship by prescribing a precise preparatory rite—purifying and sacralizing the body so devotion can be expressed as orderly, mantra-centered pūjā.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure and mantra-vinyāsa—correct placement, pronunciation, and sequencing (yathākramāt), which aligns with Śikṣā (phonetics) and Kalpa (ritual method).