Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

कुर्वीत गोलकन्यासं रक्षायै तदनन्तरम् । हृदि वक्त्रेंऽसयोरूर्वोः कंठे नाभौ द्विपार्श्वयोः ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

kurvīta golakanyāsaṃ rakṣāyai tadanantaram | hṛdi vaktreṃ'sayorūrvoḥ kaṃṭhe nābhau dvipārśvayoḥ || 7 ||

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം രക്ഷയ്ക്കായി ‘ഗോലക-ന്യാസം’ ചെയ്യണം. അത് ഹൃദയത്തിൽ, മുഖത്തിൽ, ഇരുഭുജങ്ങളിൽ, ഇരുതുടകളിൽ, കണ്ഠത്തിൽ, നാഭിയിൽ, ഇരുപാർശ്വങ്ങളിലും വിന്യസിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• कुर्वीत: should do / should perform
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गोलक-न्यासम्: the placement (nyāsa) of the spheres/centers (golaka)
• गोलक-न्यासम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोलक + न्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• रक्षायै: for protection
• रक्षायै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient-purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• तत्-अनन्तरम्: immediately after that
• तत्-अनन्तरम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् + अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of sequence)

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

• वक्त्रे: in the mouth/face
• वक्त्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अंसयोः: of the two shoulders
• अंसयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• ऊर्वोः: of the two thighs
• ऊर्वोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• कण्ठे: in the throat
• कण्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• नाभौ: in the navel
• नाभौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• द्वि-पार्श्वयोः: of the two sides/flanks
• द्वि-पार्श्वयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि + पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; द्विगुसमास (numeral compound)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a technical/ritual instruction context, traditionally in dialogue with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It teaches a protective (rakṣā) ritual method—nyāsa—where sacred power is internalized by placing the mantra’s presence onto key body-points, turning the practitioner’s body into a safeguarded, consecrated field.

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

Though technical, nyāsa supports bhakti by preparing the devotee’s body-mind as a purified vessel for worship, japa, and remembrance—protection is framed as an aid to steady devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual discipline (prayoga) and mantra-anga practice—precise bodily placements and sequence (“tadanantaram”) used in protective rites, a technical feature typical of Narada Purana’s Book 1.3 material.