Shloka 14

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Aṣṭākṣarī Maṇḍala-Pūjā and Nyāsa

Devanagari script

ष्णकारं वै शिखायां तु वेकारं कवचे न्यसेत् । नकारं नेत्रयोस्तु स्यान्मकारं चास्त्रमीरितम् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

ṣṇakāraṃ vai śikhāyāṃ tu vekāraṃ kavace nyaset | nakāraṃ netrayostu syānmakāraṃ cāstramīritam || 14 ||

Translation

พยางค์ “ษฺณะ” พึงนยาสไว้ที่ศิขา (จุกผมยอด) และพยางค์ “เว” พึงนยาสไว้ในกวจะ (มนต์เกราะคุ้มกัน) พยางค์ “นะ” พึงไว้ที่ดวงตาทั้งสอง และพยางค์ “มะ” ได้ประกาศว่าเป็นอัสตระ (มนต์อาวุธ).

Word by Word

• ष्णकारम्: the syllable ‘ṣṇa’ (ṣṇakāra)
• ष्णकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ष्णकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• शिखायाम्: in the topknot/crown (śikhā)
• शिखायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तु: and/but
• तु: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• वेकारम्: the syllable ‘ve’ (vekāra)
• वेकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• कवचे: in the armour (kavaca)
• कवचे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘one should place’

• नकारम्: the syllable ‘na’ (nakāra)
• नकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• नेत्रयोः: in the two eyes
• नेत्रयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी/षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; अत्र अधिकरणार्थे (in the two eyes)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should be’

• मकारम्: the syllable ‘ma’ (makāra)
• मकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात

• अस्त्रम्: weapon (astra)
• अस्त्रम्: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र समानाधिकरणे (as ‘weapon’)

• ईरितम्: is declared
• ईरितम्: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईर् (धातु) → ईरित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘declared/said’

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual nyāsa within the Narada Purana’s instruction stream)

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—ritual placement of mantra-syllables on specific bodily loci—so the practitioner internalizes protection and sanctification, treating the body as a consecrated field for mantra-sādhana.

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

By prescribing kavaca and astra placements, it supports bhakti with disciplined ritual safeguards, helping the devotee maintain steadiness, purity, and focused remembrance during worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual science—mantra-viniyoga and nyāsa procedure (a practical extension of Śikṣā-style phonetic attention to syllables and correct ritual placement).