Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 186

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

विद्याया व्यंजनैर्दीर्घस्वरयुक्तैश्चतुष्टयम् । शेषाभ्यां च द्वयं कुर्यात्षडंगानि करांगयोः ॥ १८६ ॥

Transliteration

vidyāyā vyaṃjanairdīrghasvarayuktaiścatuṣṭayam | śeṣābhyāṃ ca dvayaṃ kuryātṣaḍaṃgāni karāṃgayoḥ || 186 ||

Translation

ഈ വിദ്യയ്ക്കായി ദീർഘസ്വരയുക്തമായ വ്യഞ്ജനങ്ങളാൽ നാലിന്റെ ഒരു കൂട്ടം ഒരുക്കണം; ശേഷിക്കുന്ന രണ്ടാൽ ഒരു ജോടി ഉണ്ടാക്കണം—ഇങ്ങനെ കരാംഗങ്ങളിൽ ഷഡംഗ-ന്യാസം സ്ഥാപിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• विद्यायाः: of the vidyā/mantra
• विद्यायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

• व्यञ्जनैः: with consonants
• व्यञ्जनैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• दीर्घस्वरयुक्तैः: endowed with long vowels
• दीर्घस्वरयुक्तैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ + स्वर + युक्त (युज् धातु)
• Form: तृतीया, बहुवचन (instrumental plural), नपुंसक/पुं (context agrees with व्यञ्जनैः); तत्पुरुषः ‘दीर्घ-स्वर-युक्त’ = endowed with long vowels

• चतुष्टयम्: a set of four
• चतुष्टयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शेषाभ्याम्: with the remaining two
• शेषाभ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया, द्विवचन; ‘with the remaining two’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• द्वयम्: a pair/two
• द्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should make
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• षडङ्गानि: six parts/limbs
• षडङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः ‘षट्-अङ्ग’ = six limbs/parts

• कराङ्गयोः: on the parts of the hands
• कराङ्गयोः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुं, सप्तमी/षष्ठी द्विवचन-रूप (योः); तत्पुरुषः ‘कर-अङ्ग’ = limbs of the hands; here ‘in/on the hand-limbs’ (locative dual intended)

Speaker

Narada (in a technical exposition on Vedāṅga-linked mantra practice/nyāsa within Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined mantra-application: sacred sound (vidyā) is to be placed methodically through ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa, treating phonetics and placement as a means to steady attention and sanctify the practitioner’s body for worship.

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

Though technical, it supports bhakti by prescribing a careful preparatory rite (nyāsa) that purifies speech and mind, making mantra-japa and pūjā more focused and reverent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-vidhi are emphasized: consonants combined with long vowels are organized into sets to map the mantra’s six-limbed structure onto hand-positions (karāṅga/karanyāsa).