Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 7

Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

करन्यासं तत: कुर्याद् द्वादशाक्षरविद्यया । प्रणवादियकारान्तमङ्गुल्यङ्गुष्ठपर्वसु ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

kara-nyāsaṁ tataḥ kuryād dvādaśākṣara-vidyayā praṇavādi-ya-kārāntam aṅguly-aṅguṣṭha-parvasu

Translation

随后应以十二音节明咒“唵 那摩 薄伽梵帝 婆苏提婆耶”作手安置（kara-nyāsa）。每一音节皆以前置“唵”而诵，将诸音节安置于指尖，从右手食指起，至左手食指止；余下四音节安置于两拇指的关节处。

Synonyms

• kara-nyāsam: hand-nyāsa (placing on the hands)
• kara-nyāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक) + nyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘करस्य न्यासः’

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तर (thereafter)

• kuryāt: one should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• dvādaśa-akṣara-vidyayā: by the twelve-syllable vidyā (mantra)
• dvādaśa-akṣara-vidyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक) + vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘द्वादशाक्षरा विद्या’ (twelve-syllabled mantra/vidyā)

• praṇava-ādi-ya-kāra-antam: beginning with praṇava (Oṁ) and ending with ‘ya’
• praṇava-ādi-ya-kāra-antam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + ya-kāra (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of mantra/sequence): ‘प्रणवेन आदिः, यकारे अन्तः’ = beginning with Oṁ and ending with ‘ya’

• aṅguli-aṅguṣṭha-parvasu: on the joints of the fingers and thumb
• aṅguli-aṅguṣṭha-parvasu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅguli (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅguṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + parvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), बहुवचन; ‘अङ्गुल्यङ्गुष्ठयोः पर्वाणि’ = joints of fingers and thumb

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about kara-nyāsa (hand placement) in the Nārāyaṇa-kavaca?

This verse instructs that one should perform kara-nyāsa with the twelve-syllable mantra, assigning its syllables to the joints of the fingers and thumb, beginning with oṁ and ending with ‘ya’.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe mantra-nyāsa to Parīkṣit Mahārāja in Canto 6 Chapter 8?

Because the Nārāyaṇa-kavaca is presented as a devotional protective practice; Śukadeva explains the proper method (vidhi) so the listener understands how remembrance of Nārāyaṇa is invoked through disciplined mantra application.

Practical application of mantra-nyāsa in modern life according to this shloka?

Use structured, mindful repetition of a Vaiṣṇava mantra with focused attention (even if simplified), turning prayer into concentrated remembrance that strengthens steadiness and devotion.