Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

गले पार्श्वद्वये पृष्ठे ककुद्यर्णान्मनूद्भवान् । प्रणवान्तरितान् कृत्वा न्यसेत्साधकसत्तमः ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

gale pārśvadvaye pṛṣṭhe kakudyarṇānmanūdbhavān | praṇavāntaritān kṛtvā nyasetsādhakasattamaḥ || 19 ||

Translation

最胜行者当作安置（nyāsa）：将由摩奴（Manu）所生之诸音节，安于咽喉、身之两侧与背部；每一音节皆以圣音praṇava“唵（Oṁ）”为前导而分隔。

Word by Word

• गले: on the neck/throat
• गले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पार्श्व-द्वये: on both sides (flanks)
• पार्श्व-द्वये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (पार्श्वयोः द्वयम्)

• पृष्ठे: on the back
• पृष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ककुदि: on the hump/upper back
• ककुदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ककुद्/ककुदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (ककुदि = on the hump/upper back)

• अर्णान्: syllables
• अर्णान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मनु-उद्भवान्: born from Manu (mantric syllables)
• मनु-उद्भवान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from उद्-√भू)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (मनुना उद्भवाः) — qualifying ‘अर्णान्’

• प्रणव-अन्तरितान्: interspersed with the praṇava (oṃ)
• प्रणव-अन्तरितान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तरित (कृदन्त, अन्तर्-√इ ‘to go between’/अन्तर्-√धा ‘to interpose’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण ‘अन्तरित’ (interposed); समासः तत्पुरुषः (प्रणवेन अन्तरिताः)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund) ‘having done/made’

• न्यसेत्: should place (perform nyāsa)
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√अस्/न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; अर्थः ‘should place/assign (nyāsa)’

• साधक-सत्तमः: the best practitioner
• साधक-सत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (साधकानां सत्तमः)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (in instruction to Nārada on mantra-nyāsa procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Praṇava (Oṁ)
• Manu

FAQs

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

It teaches a precise nyāsa method: sanctifying specific body-points by installing mantra-syllables, each joined with Oṁ, so the practitioner’s body becomes a fit vessel for japa and worship.

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

By prescribing mantra-nyāsa, it supports bhakti as disciplined worship: devotion is strengthened through correct mantra-vidhi, where Oṁ-centered placement prepares the sādhaka for focused remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-vidhi and śikṣā-oriented precision: correct use of praṇava with mantra-syllables and their ritual placement (nyāsa), reflecting technical liturgical practice emphasized in Book 1.3.