Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 76

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

Devanagari script

कुक्षौ नाभौ ध्वजे जानुद्वये पादद्वये तथा । न्यासेत्क्रमान् मन्त्रवर्णान्सृष्टिन्यासोऽयमीरितः ॥ ७६ ॥

Transliteration

kukṣau nābhau dhvaje jānudvaye pādadvaye tathā | nyāsetkramān mantravarṇānsṛṣṭinyāso'yamīritaḥ || 76 ||

Translation

പിന്നീട് മന്ത്രവർണങ്ങളെ ക്രമമായി ഉദരത്തിൽ, നാഭിയിൽ, ധ്വജ-പ്രദേശത്ത്, ഇരുജാനുക്കളിൽ, ഇരുപാദങ്ങളിൽ വിന്യസിക്കണം. ഇതാണ് ‘സൃഷ്ടി-ന്യാസം’ എന്നു പ്രസ്താവിച്ചത്.

Word by Word

• kukṣau: in/on the belly
• kukṣau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kukṣi (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (Locative), Ekavacana

• nābhau: at the navel
• nābhau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nābhi (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• dhvaje: at the ‘dhvaja’ (banner/mark region)
• dhvaje: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvaja (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; here ‘dhvaja’ = liṅga/flag-mark region (lower abdomen) in nyāsa context

• jānu-dvaye: on the two knees
• jānu-dvaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jānu (प्रातिपदik) + dvaya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; dvigu: two knees (dual-collective)

• pāda-dvaye: on the two feet
• pāda-dvaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदik) + dvaya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; dvigu: two feet

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb meaning ‘likewise/also’

• nyāset: one should place (perform nyāsa)
• nyāset: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nyas (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• kramān: in sequence/steps
• kramān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana

• mantra-varṇān: the mantra-syllables
• mantra-varṇān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदik) + varṇa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: mantrasya varṇāḥ (letters/syllables of the mantra)

• sṛṣṭi-nyāsaḥ: the ‘sṛṣṭi-nyāsa’ (creation-nyāsa)
• sṛṣṭi-nyāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदik) + nyāsa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: sṛṣṭeḥ nyāsaḥ (creation-nyāsa)

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; pronoun

• īritaḥ: is declared
• īritaḥ: Bhāva (भाव/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īr (धातु) + kta (कृत्) → īrita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta-participle, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicative ‘is stated’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches sṛṣṭi-nyāsa—installing mantra syllables on specific body points in the ‘order of creation,’ sacralizing the practitioner’s body as a fit vessel for mantra-japa and worship.

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

By prescribing disciplined mantra-nyāsa, it frames devotion as practiced bhakti—where reverence is expressed through correct ritual embodiment of the mantra before worship and remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes precise use of mantra-varṇas (phonemic units) and ordered placement (krama), reflecting technical ritual science allied to Śikṣā (correct articulation) and Kalpa (procedural rite).