Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

हृदि चांसद्वये नाभिकुक्षौ पृष्ठेऽथ वक्षसि । अथोरसि कला न्यस्येदष्टौ मंत्री यथाविधि ॥ ७० ॥

Transliteration

hṛdi cāṃsadvaye nābhikukṣau pṛṣṭhe'tha vakṣasi | athorasi kalā nyasyedaṣṭau maṃtrī yathāvidhi || 70 ||

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം ഹൃദയത്തിൽ, ഇരുഭുജങ്ങളിൽ, നാഭിയിലും ഉദരത്തിലും, പൃഷ്ഠത്തിൽയും വക്ഷസ്ഥലത്തും—ഇങ്ങനെ ദേഹത്തിൽ—മന്ത്രവിദൻ വിധിപ്രകാരം അഷ്ടകലകളുടെ ന്യാസം ചെയ്യണം।

Word by Word

• hṛdi: in the heart
• hṛdi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

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

• aṃsa-dvaye: on the pair of shoulders
• aṃsa-dvaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + dvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (aṃsayor dvaye)

• nābhi-kukṣau: in the navel and the belly
• nābhi-kukṣau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nābhi (प्रातिपदिक) + kukṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (nābhi) + पुंलिङ्ग (kukṣi) द्वन्द्व-समास; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), द्विवचन

• pṛṣṭhe: on the back
• pṛṣṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अनन्तर-अव्यय (then/next)

• vakṣasi: on the chest
• vakṣasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अनन्तर-अव्यय (then/next)

• urasi: on the breast
• urasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• kalāḥ: the kalās (parts/energies)
• kalāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन

• nyasyet: should place
• nyasyet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः—स्थापयेत्/न्यसेत् (should place)

• aṣṭau: eight
• aṣṭau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (agreeing with kalāḥ)

• maṃtrī: the mantra-practitioner
• maṃtrī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• yathā-vidhi: according to the prescribed rule
• yathā-vidhi: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverbial) अर्थः—विधिपूर्वकं (according to rule)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches internal consecration (nyāsa): the practitioner sanctifies the body by placing eight divine kalās at specific loci, making the body a fit seat for mantra-japa and worship.

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

By prescribing disciplined, reverent preparation of the body for worship, it supports bhakti as a practiced devotion—devotional feeling is joined with correct ritual method (yathāvidhi) to focus the mind on the deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa/ritual science: rule-governed procedures for mantra-application (nyāsa), including precise bodily locations and the requirement of a qualified mantrī (mantra-competent practitioner).