Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 170

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

Devanagari script

नमोतान्मंत्रवर्णांश्च स्थितिन्यासोऽयमीरितः । पादयोर्गुल्फयोश्चैव जंघयोर्जानुनोस्तथा ॥ १७० ॥

Transliteration

namotānmaṃtravarṇāṃśca sthitinyāso'yamīritaḥ | pādayorgulphayoścaiva jaṃghayorjānunostathā || 170 ||

Translation

นยาสะของพยางค์มนตร์ที่ขึ้นต้นด้วย “นะโม” นี้กล่าวว่าเป็น ‘สถิติ-นยาสะ’ คือวางที่เท้า ข้อเท้า หน้าแข้ง และที่เข่าด้วย

Word by Word

• नमोतान्: beginning with 'namaḥ'
• नमोतान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म) (qualifying 'mantra-letters')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नमः (प्रातिपदिक) + उत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः (नमः-उत = 'arisen from/preceded by namas', i.e., 'beginning with namas')

• मन्त्र-वर्णान्: mantra-syllables
• मन्त्र-वर्णान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मन्त्राणां वर्णाः = 'letters/syllables of mantras')

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्थिति-न्यासः: the maintenance-nyāsa
• स्थिति-न्यासः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक) + न्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्थितेः न्यासः = 'nyāsa of maintenance/preservation')

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ईरितः: is declared
• ईरितः: क्रियाविशेष्य (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पादयोः: of the two feet
• पादयोः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन (Dual)

• गुल्फयोः: of the two ankles
• गुल्फयोः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुल्फ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन (Dual)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• जङ्घयोः: of the two shanks
• जङ्घयोः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन (Dual)

• जानुनोः: of the two knees
• जानुनोः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन (Dual) — alternate dual genitive form

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb) — 'thus/likewise'

Speaker

Narada (in instruction-dialogue, traditionally to/within the Sanatkumara discourse context)

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 specific nyāsa (ritual placement) called sthiti-nyāsa, meant to establish steadiness and grounding of the practitioner by placing mantra-syllables on the lower limbs.

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

Bhakti practice often begins with disciplined upāsanā; this verse supports devotion by prescribing a bodily mantra-placement that steadies the devotee for focused remembrance and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual-technical knowledge: mapping mantra-varṇas (syllables) onto body-points as part of procedural upāsanā/nyāsa, a practical discipline aligned with mantra-śāstra and ritual method.