Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

जीवं प्राणं मतिमहंकारं मनस्तथैव च । शब्दं स्पर्शं रूपरसौ गंधं श्रोत्रं त्वचं तथा ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

jīvaṃ prāṇaṃ matimahaṃkāraṃ manastathaiva ca | śabdaṃ sparśaṃ rūparasau gaṃdhaṃ śrotraṃ tvacaṃ tathā || 12 ||

Translation

O jīva (eu individual), o prāṇa (alento vital), a mati (intelecto), o ahaṅkāra (sentido de eu) e o manas (mente); som, tato, forma e sabor, odor; e também o ouvido e a pele—tudo isso é enumerado.

Word by Word

• जीवम्: the living self (jīva)
• जीवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• प्राणम्: vital breath (prāṇa)
• प्राणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मति-अहंकारम्: intellect and ego-sense
• मति-अहंकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक) + अहंकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (copulative) ‘mati and ahaṃkāra’ treated as a unit

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (मनस् → मनः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle, emphasis)

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

• शब्दम्: sound
• शब्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्पर्शम्: touch
• स्पर्शम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रूप-रसौ: form and taste
• रूप-रसौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वः (copulative)

• गन्धम्: smell
• गन्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रोत्रम्: ear (organ of hearing)
• श्रोत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्वचम्: skin
• त्वचम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching to Narada in a Vedanga/technical exposition context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It itemizes the inner faculties (mind, intellect, ego) and sensory field (sense-objects and organs), guiding the seeker to discern the self (jīva) from the instruments of experience—an essential step in adhyātma-vicāra (spiritual analysis).

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

By identifying the mind, senses, and their objects, it implies that bhakti requires directing these instruments toward the Divine—restraining outward pull and engaging hearing, perception, and thought in remembrance and worship rather than sense-gratification.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects a technical, śāstra-style categorization used in Vedic disciplines for clarity in teaching—supporting precise doctrinal understanding (useful in systematic study alongside disciplines like Vyākaraṇa and Nirukta for exact meanings of terms such as manas, ahaṅkāra, and indriya).