Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 144

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

हृद्देशन्यस्तनामार्णां पचेत्तैलाज्ययोर्निशि । तन्मनाश्च दिवारात्रौ विद्याजप्तां तु भक्षयेत् ॥ १४४ ॥

Transliteration

hṛddeśanyastanāmārṇāṃ pacettailājyayorniśi | tanmanāśca divārātrau vidyājaptāṃ tu bhakṣayet || 144 ||

Translation

ഹൃദയദേശത്ത് നാമാക്ഷരങ്ങൾ ന്യാസം ചെയ്ത്, രാത്രിയിൽ എള്ളെണ്ണയിലോ നെയ്യിലോ (നൈവേദ്യം) പാകം ചെയ്യണം. അതിൽ മനസ്സു നിശ്ചലമാക്കി, പകൽ-രാത്രി വിദ്യാമന്ത്രജപം കൊണ്ട് സംസ്കൃതമായത് ഭുജിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• हृत्-देश-न्यस्त-नाम-अर्णाम्: letters/syllables of the name placed on the heart-region
• हृत्-देश-न्यस्त-नाम-अर्णाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक) + न्यस्त (कृदन्त; √न्यस् धातु) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (हृद्देशे न्यस्तानि नामानि येषां तानि अर्णानि)

• पचेत्: should cook
• पचेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तैल-अज्ययोः: of oil and ghee
• तैल-अज्ययोः: Adhikarana/Instrument (अधिकरण/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तैल (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (तैलं च आज्यं च)

• निशि: at night
• निशि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तत्-मनाः: with mind fixed on that
• तत्-मनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिवत् प्रयोगः—‘तस्मिन् मनः यस्य सः’ (तत्पुरुष-समासरूप)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दिवा-रात्रौ: day and night
• दिवा-रात्रौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय) + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमासः; अव्ययीभाववत् कालवाचक-प्रयोगः; सप्तमी-अर्थे (time)

• विद्या-जप्ताम्: (that) recited spell/mantra
• विद्या-जप्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + जप्त (कृदन्त; √जप् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विद्यया जप्ता)

• तु: indeed/then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/contrast)

• भक्षयेत्: should eat/consume
• भक्षयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Vidyā/Mantra-vidhi context)

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 a mantra-sādhana method: performing hṛdaya-nyāsa (installing the mantra’s syllables at the heart) and taking food made sacred through japa, so the practitioner internalizes the mantra and steadies devotion and concentration.

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

By directing the sādhaka to keep the mind fixed on the chosen deity/mantra day and night, it frames ritual action (cooking and eating) as continuous remembrance—turning ordinary acts into bhakti-supported mantra practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-śāstra procedure aligned with ritual discipline: nyāsa (mantric placement), japa-based saṃskāra (sanctification), and prescribed dravya use (ghee/sesame oil) as part of technical vidhi.