Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

Mantraśodhana, Dīkṣā-krama, Guru-Pādukā, Ajapā-Haṃsa, and Ṣaṭcakra-Kuṇḍalinī Sādhana

Devanagari script

अशंकितो वा शय्यायां स्वकीयशिरसि स्मरेत् । सहस्रदलशुक्लाब्जकणिकास्थेंदुमण्डले ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

aśaṃkito vā śayyāyāṃ svakīyaśirasi smaret | sahasradalaśuklābjakaṇikāstheṃdumaṇḍale || 48 ||

Translation

അല്ലെങ്കിൽ കിടക്കയിൽ ഭയമില്ലാതെ കിടന്ന്, സ്വന്തം ശിരസ്സിൽ സ്ഥിതിചെയ്യുന്ന ചന്ദ്രമണ്ഡലത്തെ ധ്യാനിക്കണം; അത് സഹസ്രദള ശ്വേതപദ്മത്തിന്റെ മദ്ധ്യകേശരത്തിൽ നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു।

Word by Word

• अशंकितः: unafraid/without doubt
• अशंकितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-शङ्कित (कृदन्त; √शङ्क् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; कर्तरि विशेषण

• वा: or
• वा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (particle: or/alternatively)

• शय्यायाम्: on the bed
• शय्यायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वकीयशिरसि: on one’s own head
• स्वकीयशिरसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वकीय + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘स्वकीयस्य शिरसि’

• स्मरेत्: should remember/meditate
• स्मरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• सहस्रदलशुक्लाब्जकणिकास्थेन्दुमण्डले: in the moon-disc situated on the filament of the white thousand-petalled lotus
• सहस्रदलशुक्लाब्जकणिकास्थेन्दुमण्डले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + दल + शुक्ल + अब्ज + कणिका + स्थ + इन्दु + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-समासः—‘सहस्रदलस्य शुक्लाब्जस्य कणिकायां स्थिते इन्दुमण्डले’ (locative)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It prescribes an inner visualization (smaraṇa/dhyāna) of the thousand‑petalled lotus at the crown and a calming “lunar orb,” indicating a sattvic, cooling focus that steadies the mind and supports liberation-oriented practice.

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

Even though it is framed as yogic meditation, the act of continuous remembrance (smaret) functions like bhakti-style smaraṇa—training the devotee to keep sacred awareness present even at rest, such as while lying down.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical, method-based instruction (prayoga) aligned with Narada Purana’s Book 1.3 tone—structured dhyāna visualization (a practical discipline akin to auxiliary sciences of practice), emphasizing precise mental placement and form (lotus, center, orb).