Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

तासामात्मचतुष्कस्य योगादर्काक्षरो भवेत् । ललाटकुक्षिहृत्कंठदक्षपार्श्वांसकेषु च ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

tāsāmātmacatuṣkasya yogādarkākṣaro bhavet | lalāṭakukṣihṛtkaṃṭhadakṣapārśvāṃsakeṣu ca || 22 ||

Translation

由彼等诸要素与“四重内在原理”（ātma-catuṣka）作瑜伽相合，即生出音节“arka”；随后当行安置法（nyāsa），置于额、腹、心、喉，并安于右胁与右肩。

Word by Word

• तासाम्: of those (fem.)
• तासाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• आत्म-चतुष्कस्य: of the set of four (placed) on the self/body
• आत्म-चतुष्कस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + चतुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative)

• योगात्: from (the act of) joining/placement
• योगात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान: cause/from)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• अर्क-अक्षरः: the solar syllable (arkākṣara)
• अर्क-अक्षरः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय (descriptive): 'solar' + 'syllable'

• भवेत्: should become/arise
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• ललाट-कुक्षि-हृत्-कण्ठ-दक्ष-पार्श्व-अंसकेषु: in the forehead, belly, heart, throat, right side, and shoulder-region
• ललाट-कुक्षि-हृत्-कण्ठ-दक्ष-पार्श्व-अंसकेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललाट + कुक्षि + हृद्/हृत् + कण्ठ + दक्ष + पार्श्व + अंसक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a Vedanga/nyasa-vidhi teaching sequence)

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 links inner yogic synthesis (ātma-catuṣka-yoga) with a specific sacred syllable (“arka”) and prescribes nyāsa—ritual placement on key bodily centers—so the practitioner internalizes mantra-power rather than keeping it merely verbal.

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

While technical, the nyāsa instruction functions as embodied devotion: the mantra is installed on the body’s sacred points, turning the devotee’s own form into a support for steady remembrance and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied mantra-science: forming a specific akṣara through “yoga” (combination) and using a ritual procedure (nyāsa) that belongs to the technical discipline of mantra-prayoga found in Vedanga-oriented sections.