Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

पादे लिंगे हृदि मुखे मूर्ध्नि वक्षसि हृत्स्थले । सर्वांगे व्यापकं कुर्यादेकेन साधकोत्तमः ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

pāde liṃge hṛdi mukhe mūrdhni vakṣasi hṛtsthale | sarvāṃge vyāpakaṃ kuryādekena sādhakottamaḥ || 18 ||

Translation

เมื่อวาง (พลังมนตร์) ไว้ที่เท้า อวัยวะกำเนิด หทัย ปาก กระหม่อม อก และบริเวณหทัยแล้ว ผู้ปฏิบัติผู้ยอดเยี่ยมพึงทำให้แผ่ซ่านทั่วสรรพางค์ด้วยมนตร์เดียว.

Word by Word

• पादे: in the foot
• पादे: अधिकरण (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• लिङ्गे: in the liṅga (genital)
• लिङ्गे: अधिकरण (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: अधिकरण (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषरूपम्—हृदि

• मुखे: in the mouth
• मुखे: अधिकरण (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head/crown
• मूर्ध्नि: अधिकरण (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषरूपम्—मूर्ध्नि

• वक्षसि: in the chest
• वक्षसि: अधिकरण (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषरूपम्—वक्षसि

• हृत्-स्थले: in the heart-region
• हृत्-स्थले: अधिकरण (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृत् + स्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—हृदः स्थलम् (place of the heart)

• सर्व-अङ्गे: in the whole body
• सर्व-अङ्गे: अधिकरण (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—सर्वम् अङ्गम् (the whole body)

• व्यापकम्: all-pervading
• व्यापकम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यापक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘(न्यासं/तत्त्वं)’ इत्यादेः विशेषणम्

• कुर्यात्: should make/do
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• एकेन: with one (method/mantra)
• एकेन: करण (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; साधनवाचक

• साधक-उत्तमः: the best practitioner
• साधक-उत्तमः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—साधकानाम् उत्तमः (best among practitioners)

Speaker

Narada (teaching a technical ritual method within Vedanga-oriented practice)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches a disciplined inner-ritual (nyāsa) where the mantra is installed in key bodily centers and then expanded as a protective, sanctifying presence throughout the entire body (vyāpaka), turning the body into a fit vessel for sādhana.

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

Even in technical practice, the intent is surrender and consecration—one mantra is treated as the Lord’s living presence, first honored in specific seats and then invoked to pervade the whole being, aligning body and mind for steady devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights prayoga (practical ritual application) of mantra through nyāsa and vyāpaka—procedural knowledge used in mantra-vidhi to focus attention, regulate recitation, and establish ritual protection before deeper worship.