Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 112

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

पद्मकं स्वस्तिकं पीठं सैंहं कौक्कुटकौंजरे । कौर्मंवज्रासनं चैव वाराहं मृगचैलिकम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

padmakaṃ svastikaṃ pīṭhaṃ saiṃhaṃ kaukkuṭakauṃjare | kaurmaṃvajrāsanaṃ caiva vārāhaṃ mṛgacailikam || 12 ||

Translation

പദ്മകം, സ്വസ്തികം, പീഠം, സിംഹം, കൗക്കുടം, ഔഞ്ജരം; കൂടാതെ കൗർമം, വജ്രാസനം, വാരാഹം, മൃഗചൈലികം—ഇവയാണ് ആസനങ്ങൾ എന്നു പ്രസ്താവിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• पद्मकम्: Padmaka (lotus posture)
• पद्मकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; आसननाम (as a posture-name)

• स्वस्तिकम्: Svastika posture
• स्वस्तिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वस्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; आसननाम

• पीठम्: Pīṭha posture/seat
• पीठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; आसननाम

• सैंहम्: Siṃha (lion) posture
• सैंहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; आसननाम (सिंहासन-भेद)

• कौक्कुटकम्: Kaukkuṭaka (cock) posture
• कौक्कुटकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौक्कुटक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; आसननाम

• औञ्जरे: Auñjara posture (name)
• औञ्जरे: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: औञ्जर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; आसननाम (पाठभेद/दुर्लभ-नाम)

• कौर्मम्: Kaurma (tortoise) posture
• कौर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; आसननाम

• वज्रासनम्: Vajrāsana (diamond posture)
• वज्रासनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र-आसन (प्रातिपदिक; वज्र + आसन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; आसननाम

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

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• वाराहम्: Vārāha (boar) posture
• वाराहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; आसननाम

• मृगचैलिकम्: Mṛgacailika posture (deer-cloth posture)
• मृगचैलिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग-चैलिक (प्रातिपदिक; मृग + चैलिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; आसननाम

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching), in dialogue with Nārada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes bodily steadiness through recognized āsanas as a foundation for higher sādhana—calming the body to support concentration, breath-discipline, and contemplative practice.

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

While the verse is technical (listing postures), it supports bhakti indirectly: a stable, disciplined body aids sustained japa, meditation on Viṣṇu, and focused devotional worship without distraction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects a technical, systematic approach to practice—akin to Vedāṅga-style precision—by cataloging standardized terms and methods used to structure ritualized discipline (sādhana) for spiritual aims.