Shloka 4

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Aṣṭākṣarī Maṇḍala-Pūjā and Nyāsa

Devanagari script

अथ ते संप्रवक्ष्यामि कायशोधनमुत्तमम् । क्षकारं हृदये चिंत्यं रक्तं रेफसमन्वितम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

atha te saṃpravakṣyāmi kāyaśodhanamuttamam | kṣakāraṃ hṛdaye ciṃtyaṃ raktaṃ rephasamanvitam || 4 ||

Translation

اب میں تمہیں جسم کی پاکیزگی کا اعلیٰ طریقہ بتاتا ہوں—دل میں ‘کْشَ’ حرف کا دھیان کرو، جو سرخ رنگ کا ہو اور ‘ر’ (ریف) کے ساتھ ملا ہوا ہو۔

Word by Word

• अथ: now/then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरवाचक-अव्यय (sequence particle)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• संप्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain fully
• संप्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• काय-शोधनम्: purification of the body
• काय-शोधनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक) + शोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• क्षकारम्: the syllable ‘kṣa’
• क्षकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• हृदये: in the heart
• हृदये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• चिन्त्यम्: to be meditated upon
• चिन्त्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक; √चिन्त्-धातु से)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); ‘to be contemplated’

• रक्तम्: red
• रक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• रेफ-समन्वितम्: endowed with ‘repha’ (the ‘r’ sound)
• रेफ-समन्वितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रेफ (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक; √अन्वि/अन्व्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रेफेण समन्वितम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (instructing the Sanatkumara tradition/listener)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It presents an inner, mantra-based purification (kāya-śodhana) where cleansing is achieved not only by external rites but by disciplined contemplation of a sacred syllable in the heart.

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

By directing attention to the heart and to sacred sound, it supports bhakti as inward remembrance—purifying the devotee’s inner being so devotion becomes steady and fit for divine worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Śikṣā and Vyākaraṇa sensibilities: precise attention to varṇa (letters), phonetic elements like “repha” (ra), and their disciplined use in mantra-dhyāna/nyāsa-style practice.