Shloka 12

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Aṣṭākṣarī Maṇḍala-Pūjā and Nyāsa

Devanagari script

वायव्योऽयं यकारस्तु वामस्कंधे समाश्रितः । णाकारः सर्वदा ज्ञेयो दक्षिणांसे व्यवस्थितः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

vāyavyo'yaṃ yakārastu vāmaskaṃdhe samāśritaḥ | ṇākāraḥ sarvadā jñeyo dakṣiṇāṃse vyavasthitaḥ || 12 ||

Translation

വായു-തത്ത്വബന്ധിയായ ‘യ’ അക്ഷരം ഇടത് തോളിൽ ആശ്രയിപ്പിക്കണം. ‘ണ’ അക്ഷരം എപ്പോഴും വലത് തോളിൽ സ്ഥിതമാണെന്ന് അറിയണം.

Word by Word

• वायव्यः: pertaining to Vāyu / north-western
• वायव्यः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वायव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दिशावाचक-विशेषण (vāyu-sambandhī)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• यकारः: the syllable ‘ya’ (yakāra)
• यकारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• वामस्कन्धे: on the left shoulder
• वामस्कन्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम + स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (वामः स्कन्धः)

• समाश्रितः: resting/located
• समाश्रितः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + श्रि (धातु) → समाश्रित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• णाकारः: the syllable ‘ṇa’ (ṇākāra)
• णाकारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: णाकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण

• ज्ञेयः: to be known
• ज्ञेयः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेयार्थक कृदन्त (तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्यय; ‘to be known’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दक्षिणांसे: on the right shoulder
• दक्षिणांसे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण + अंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (दक्षिणः अंसः)

• व्यवस्थितः: situated
• व्यवस्थितः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + अव + स्था (धातु) → व्यवस्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (in instruction to Nārada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu

FAQs

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

It teaches mantra-nyāsa: installing specific syllables on body-points so the sādhaka’s body is ritually sacralized and aligned with subtle principles (here, Vāyu) during worship.

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

Bhakti practices in the Purāṇic mode often include disciplined ritual supports; this verse contributes by prescribing correct nyāsa so devotion is expressed through precise, reverent bodily worship while reciting mantra.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-vidhi: correct identification of syllables (yakāra, ṇākāra) and their ritual placement (left/right shoulder) as part of a structured recitation-and-ritual procedure.