Shloka 5

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Aṣṭākṣarī Maṇḍala-Pūjā and Nyāsa

Devanagari script

ज्वलंतं त्रिशिखं चैव दहंतं पापसंचयम् । चंद्रमंडलमध्यस्थमेकारं मूर्ध्नि चिंतयेत् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

jvalaṃtaṃ triśikhaṃ caiva dahaṃtaṃ pāpasaṃcayam | caṃdramaṃḍalamadhyasthamekāraṃ mūrdhni ciṃtayet || 5 ||

Translation

ಚಂದ್ರಮಂಡಲದ ಮಧ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಇರುವ ‘ಏ’ (ಏಕಾರ) ಅಕ್ಷರವನ್ನು ಶಿರೋಮೂರ್ಧ್ನಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಧ್ಯಾನಿಸಬೇಕು—ಅದು ಜ್ವಲಂತ, ತ್ರಿಶಿಖಾಯುಕ್ತವಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಕಾಶಿಸಿ, ಸಂಚಿತ ಪಾಪರಾಶಿಯನ್ನು ದಹಿಸುತ್ತದೆ।

Word by Word

• ज्वलन्तम्: blazing
• ज्वलन्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्रि-शिखम्: three-flamed/three-tipped
• त्रि-शिखम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + शिख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• दहन्तम्: burning
• दहन्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पाप-संचयम्: the accumulation of sins
• पाप-संचयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + संचय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• चन्द्र-मण्डल-मध्य-स्थम्: situated in the middle of the lunar disc
• चन्द्र-मण्डल-मध्य-स्थम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (चन्द्रमण्डलस्य मध्ये स्थितम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• एकारम्: the syllable ‘e’ (ekāra)
• एकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मूर्ध्नि: on/in the head (crown)
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• चिन्तयेत्: should contemplate
• चिन्तयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Chandra (lunar orb)
• Pranava (Omkara)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a focused pranava-based meditation: visualizing ekāra as a fiery, three-flamed power within the lunar sphere, capable of burning accumulated sin and elevating consciousness to the crown (mūrdhan), a classic marker of upward spiritual ascent.

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

Though framed as dhyāna, it supports bhakti-sādhana by purifying pāpa-saṃcaya and stabilizing the mind in a sacred mantra-form; such inner purity and one-pointedness are presented in the Purāṇic tradition as prerequisites for steady devotion to the Supreme (often identified with Vishnu through pranava practice).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga and phonetic precision (Śikṣā) are implicit: the verse specifies a particular varṇa/syllable (ekāra) and a visualization method (dhyāna-krama), reflecting technical mantra practice rather than a narrative-only teaching.