Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

पृष्ठे हृदि तथा मूर्ध्नि वदने नेत्रयोर्नसोः । दोःपत्संधिषु साग्रेषु विन्यसेत्तदनन्तरम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

pṛṣṭhe hṛdi tathā mūrdhni vadane netrayornasoḥ | doḥpatsaṃdhiṣu sāgreṣu vinyasettadanantaram || 8 ||

Translation

แล้วทันทีนั้น พึงทำนยาสะที่แผ่นหลัง ที่ดวงใจ และที่กระหม่อม; ที่ใบหน้า ที่ดวงตา และที่จมูก; อีกทั้งที่ข้อต่อของแขนและขา พร้อมทั้งส่วนปลายทั้งหมด

Word by Word

• पृष्ठे: on the back
• पृष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तथा: also / likewise
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• वदने: in the face/mouth
• वदने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• नेत्रयोः: of the two eyes
• नेत्रयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• नसोः: of the two nostrils
• नसोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासिका/नास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन (dual form used for nostrils)

• दोः-पत्-सन्धिषु: in the joints of arms and feet
• दोः-पत्-सन्धिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष्/दोः (बाहु) + पत् (पाद) + सन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; 'सन्धि' = joints

• स-अग्रेषु: at the extremities/tips as well
• स-अग्रेषु: Adhikarana-anvaya (अधिकरणविशेषण/Locative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; 'स' = with, qualifying 'अग्र' (tips/ends)

• विन्यसेत्: should place
• विन्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नि + अस् (धातु, 'विन्यस्' = to place)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्-अनन्तरम्: immediately thereafter
• तत्-अनन्तरम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् + अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; क्रियाविशेषण

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual context to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It teaches nyāsa—sanctifying the body by assigning mantra-power to specific limbs and sense-centers—so the practitioner’s body becomes a fit instrument for upāsanā and focused japa.

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

By prescribing disciplined bodily and sensory consecration, it supports bhakti with correct upāsanā-methods—helping the devotee steady attention on the deity and approach worship with purity and reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual-technical science (prayoga): the procedural mapping of mantra to body locations (nyāsa), a common auxiliary method used in mantra-śāstra and temple/household worship.