Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama

Devanagari script

भुवः शिखायां स्वश्चैव कवये भूर्भुवोऽक्षिषु । भूर्भुवः स्वस्तथात्रास्त्रं दिक्षु तालत्रयं न्यसेत् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

bhuvaḥ śikhāyāṃ svaścaiva kavaye bhūrbhuvo'kṣiṣu | bhūrbhuvaḥ svastathātrāstraṃ dikṣu tālatrayaṃ nyaset || 42 ||

Translation

ଶିଖାରେ 'ଭୁବଃ', ମୁଖରେ 'ସ୍ୱଃ' ଏବଂ ଆଖିରେ 'ଭୂର୍ଭୁବଃ' ନ୍ୟାସ କରିବେ। ଦିଗମାନଙ୍କରେ 'ଭୂର୍ଭୁବଃ ସ୍ୱଃ' ମନ୍ତ୍ରରେ ଅସ୍ତ୍ରନ୍ୟାସ କରିବେ ଏବଂ ତିନିଥର ତାଳି ମାରିବେ।

Word by Word

• bhuvaḥ: ‘bhuvaḥ’
• bhuvaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhuvaḥ (व्याहृति-शब्द)
• Form: Mantra-utterance/व्याहृति used as quoted syllable (अव्ययवत् प्रयोग)

• śikhāyām: in/at the topknot (śikhā)
• śikhāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• svaḥ: ‘svaḥ’
• svaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svaḥ (व्याहृति-शब्द)
• Form: Mantra-utterance/व्याहृति used as quoted syllable (अव्ययवत् प्रयोग)

• ca: and
• ca: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphasis particle (निपात)

• kavaye: to/for the sage (kavi)
• kavaye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• bhūḥ: ‘bhūḥ’
• bhūḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūḥ (व्याहृति-शब्द)
• Form: Mantra-utterance/व्याहृति used as quoted syllable (अव्ययवत् प्रयोग)

• bhuvaḥ: ‘bhuvaḥ’
• bhuvaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhuvaḥ (व्याहृति-शब्द)
• Form: Mantra-utterance/व्याहृति used as quoted syllable (अव्ययवत् प्रयोग)

• akṣiṣu: in the eyes
• akṣiṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• bhūḥ: ‘bhūḥ’
• bhūḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūḥ (व्याहृति-शब्द)
• Form: Mantra-utterance/व्याहृति used as quoted syllable (अव्ययवत् प्रयोग)

• bhuvaḥ: ‘bhuvaḥ’
• bhuvaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhuvaḥ (व्याहृति-शब्द)
• Form: Mantra-utterance/व्याहृति used as quoted syllable (अव्ययवत् प्रयोग)

• svaḥ: ‘svaḥ’
• svaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svaḥ (व्यahṛti-शब्द)
• Form: Mantra-utterance/व्याहृति used as quoted syllable (अव्ययवत् प्रयोग)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• atra: here
• atra: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Deictic adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• astram: the astra (weapon-mantra)
• astram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dikṣu: in the directions
• dikṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• tāla-trayam: the set of three tālas (claps/strikes)
• tāla-trayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāla (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; द्विगु-समासः (trayaḥ tālāḥ)

• nyaset: should place
• nyaset: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-as (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Parasmaipada; 3rd Person, Singular

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual procedure as received in the tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches a protective nyāsa using the three vyāhṛtis (Bhūr, Bhuvaḥ, Svaḥ), mapping cosmic planes onto the practitioner’s body and directions, thereby sacralizing the body as a mantra-field and establishing ritual protection.

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

Though technical, the nyāsa is a devotional discipline: the devotee internalizes sacred sound (vyāhṛtis) and offers body, speech, and perception to the divine order, supporting focused japa and worship without distraction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual science and mantra-application (prayoga) aligned with Vedāṅga practice—especially Śikṣā (correct recitation/phonetics) and Kalpa-style procedure—showing how mantras are placed (nyāsa) and used as protective ‘astra’ in the directions.