Shloka 34

Puruṣottama-kṣetra Māhātmya: Śveta-Mādhava & Matsya-Mādhava; Mārkaṇḍeya-tīrtha Mārjana and Bath Liturgy

Devanagari script

न्यसेदष्टाक्षरं मंत्रं पश्चाद्धस्तशरीरयोः । ॐ नमो नारायणायेति यं वदंति मनीषिणः ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

nyasedaṣṭākṣaraṃ maṃtraṃ paścāddhastaśarīrayoḥ | oṃ namo nārāyaṇāyeti yaṃ vadaṃti manīṣiṇaḥ || 34 ||

Translation

பின்னர் கைகளிலும் உடலிலும் அஷ்டாக்ஷர மந்திரத்தை ந்யாசம் செய்ய வேண்டும்—ஞானிகள் கூறும் ‘ஓம் நமோ நாராயணாய’ என்னும் மந்திரம் அதுவே।

Word by Word

• न्यसेत्: should place/assign (nyāsa)
• न्यसेत्: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√अस्/न्यस् (धातु; √अस् ‘to place’ in causative sense via nyas)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः—“स्थापयेत्/विन्यसेत्”

• अष्टाक्षरम्: eight-syllabled
• अष्टाक्षरम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies मन्त्रम्): “eight-syllabled”

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तर (afterwards)

• हस्तशरीरयोः: of the hands and the body
• हस्तशरीरयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation; locus for nyāsa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त + शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual); द्वन्द्वः: “हस्तयोः च शरीरयोः” → “of the hands and the body”

• ॐ: Om
• ॐ: मन्त्राङ्ग (Mantric element)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रणव (sacred syllable)

• नमो: salutation
• नमो: सम्बन्ध (Mantric particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/निपातवत् प्रयोग; ‘नमः’ इत्यस्य पदान्त-रूपम् (salutation particle)

• नारायणाय: to Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative marker)

• यम्: which
• यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of ‘वदन्ति’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धः—मन्त्रं प्रति (refers to the mantra)

• वदन्ति: say/declare
• वदन्ति: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपद

• मनीषिणः: the sages/wise ones
• मनीषिणः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual procedure as received in the tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu
• Om

FAQs

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

It teaches that the aṣṭākṣarī “Oṁ Namo Nārāyaṇāya” is not only to be recited but to be internalized through nyāsa, sanctifying the practitioner’s body as an instrument of Nārāyaṇa-bhakti.

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

By emphasizing reverent salutation to Nārāyaṇa via a celebrated Vaiṣṇava mantra, it frames devotion as embodied practice—aligning speech (japa) and body (nyāsa) in worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa-prayoga) is implied through nyāsa—procedural placement of mantra on limbs—showing disciplined liturgical method rather than abstract philosophy.