Shloka 9

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Aṣṭākṣarī Maṇḍala-Pūjā and Nyāsa

Devanagari script

एकैकं चैव वर्णं तु अंगुलीषु पृथक् पृथक् । ॐकारं पृथिवी शुक्लं वामपादे तु विन्यसेत् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

ekaikaṃ caiva varṇaṃ tu aṃgulīṣu pṛthak pṛthak | oṃkāraṃ pṛthivī śuklaṃ vāmapāde tu vinyaset || 9 ||

Translation

एकैकं वर्णमङ्गुलीषु पृथक् पृथक् विन्यसेत्। ततः शुक्लां पृथिवीं सह ॐकारं वामपादे न्यसेत्॥

Word by Word

• eka-ekam: each one (one by one)
• eka-ekam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial sense 'one by one' qualifying 'varṇam'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• varṇam: syllable/letter
• varṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• aṅgulīṣu: on the fingers
• aṅgulīṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgulī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pṛthak: separately
• pṛthak: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• pṛthak: each separately
• pṛthak: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), repetition for emphasis

• oṃkāram: the syllable Oṃ
• oṃkāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: oṃkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pṛthivī: earth (tattva)
• pṛthivī: Viśeṣaṇa/Abheda (अभेद-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); apposition/identification with oṃkāra (as its tattva)

• śuklam: white
• śuklam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'oṃkāram'

• vāma-pāde: on the left foot
• vāma-pāde: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāma (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• vinyaset: should place/assign
• vinyaset: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√ni-as (धातु) (विन्यस्यति)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Narada (instructing ritual procedure in the Uttara-Bhaga context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Om

FAQs

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

It teaches nyāsa—sanctifying the body by installing mantra-syllables and elemental principles—so the practitioner’s body becomes a fit support for japa and worship.

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

By prescribing bodily and mental consecration (placing Oṃ and the tattva-visualization), it supports focused remembrance and reverence, making devotional worship steadier and less distracted.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Śikṣā-style attention to varṇa (phoneme) placement and disciplined ritual sequencing (vinyāsa/nyāsa), emphasizing precise mantra application in practice.