Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 164

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

मातृकार्णान्न्यसेत्तत्तत्स्थानेषु सुसमाहितः । दशतत्त्वानि विन्यस्य मूलेन व्यापकं चरेत् ॥ १६४ ॥

Transliteration

mātṛkārṇānnyasettattatsthāneṣu susamāhitaḥ | daśatattvāni vinyasya mūlena vyāpakaṃ caret || 164 ||

Translation

സുസമാഹിതനായി മാതൃകാ അക്ഷരങ്ങളെ അവ അവയുടെ സ്ഥാനങ്ങളിൽ ന്യാസം ചെയ്യണം. ദശ തത്ത്വങ്ങൾ വിന്യസിച്ച്, തുടർന്ന് മൂലമന്ത്രംകൊണ്ട് വ്യാപക ന്യാസം നടത്തണം.

Word by Word

• मातृका-अर्णान्: the mātṛkā letters
• मातृका-अर्णान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृका (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘मातृकायाः अर्णानि’ = mātṛkā letters)

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

• तत्-तत्-स्थानेषु: in each respective place
• तत्-तत्-स्थानेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + तद् (सर्वनाम) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/locative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘तस्मिन् तस्मिन् स्थाने’)

• सु-समाहितः: well-concentrated
• सु-समाहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + समाहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम्-√धा + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘well-composed/attentive’

• दश-तत्त्वानि: the ten principles
• दश-तत्त्वानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (‘दश तत्त्वानि’)

• विन्यस्य: having placed
• विन्यस्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नि-√अस्/न्यस् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययभाव/gerund (‘having arranged/placed’)

• मूलेन: with the root (mantra)
• मूलेन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), एकवचन

• व्यापकम्: the pervading (covering)
• व्यापकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यापक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), एकवचन; कर्मरूपेण (object as ‘pervasion/covering’)

• चरेत्: should perform/practice
• चरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a technical/ritual exposition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Matrika
• Mula-mantra

FAQs

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

It teaches inner sanctification through nyāsa—installing sacred sound (Mātṛkā) and tattvas into the body-mind so the practitioner becomes a fit vessel for mantra-sādhana and contemplation.

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

By prescribing disciplined mantra practice (root-mantra and pervading nyāsa), it supports bhakti as embodied worship—devotion expressed through precise ritual focus and consecration of one’s entire being.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical mantra-application and phonetic-sacral use of letters (linked to Śikṣā and mantraśāstra practice), emphasizing correct placement, sequence, and concentrated attention in ritual procedure.