Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

एकैकशो न्यसेद्वर्णान्मंत्रस्य क्रमतः सुधीः । न्यसेद्धृदंसोरुपदेष्वर्णान्वेदमितान्मनोः ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

ekaikaśo nyasedvarṇānmaṃtrasya kramataḥ sudhīḥ | nyaseddhṛdaṃsorupadeṣvarṇānvedamitānmanoḥ || 13 ||

Translation

വിവേകിയായ സാധകൻ മന്ത്രത്തിലെ അക്ഷരങ്ങളെ ഒന്നൊന്നായി യഥാക്രമം ന്യാസം ചെയ്യണം. തുടർന്ന് വേദവിധിപ്രകാരം നിർണ്ണയിച്ച പരിമാണമുള്ള ആ മന്ത്രാക്ഷരങ്ങളെ ഹൃദയം, ഭുജങ്ങൾ, ഊരു, പാദങ്ങൾ എന്നിവയിൽ സ്ഥാപിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• एकैकशः: one by one
• एकैकशः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); अव्ययीभावः ‘one by one’

• न्यसेत्: should place (nyāsa)
• न्यसेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√अस्/√न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वर्णान्: letters/syllables
• वर्णान्: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• मन्त्रस्य: of the mantra
• मन्त्रस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• क्रमतः: in sequence
• क्रमतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘in order/ क्रमशः’

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√अस्/√न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• अंस-ऊरु-पदेषु: on the shoulders, thighs, and feet
• अंस-ऊरु-पदेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंस (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (collective)

• वर्णान्: letters/syllables
• वर्णान्: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• वेद-मितान्: measured/defined by the Veda
• वेद-मितान्: विशेषण (Adjectival to वर्णान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + मित (कृदन्त; √मा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘वेदेन मिताः’ (instrumental-tatpuruṣa), मित = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• मनोः: of Manu (i.e., of the mantra/Manu)
• मनोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching a technical ritual procedure within Vedanga-oriented instruction)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra is not merely recited but ritually embodied: by nyāsa, the practitioner internalizes the mantra’s power through ordered placement of its syllables on key limbs, aligning the body-mind with Vedic rule (veda-mita).

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

While technical, the verse supports bhakti by emphasizing disciplined, reverent mantra-practice; correct nyāsa makes japa and worship more focused and sanctified, turning devotion into a Veda-aligned sādhana rather than casual speech.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-krama: syllables (varṇa) must be placed and handled in correct sequence and measure, reflecting Vedic precision in sound, segmentation, and ritual application.