Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 175

Hanumān-mantra-kathana: Mantra-bheda, Nyāsa, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

धृत्वा मूर्ध्नि जपेन्मंत्रमयुतं बन्धमुक्तये । यन्त्रमेतल्लिखित्वा तु मृत्तिकोपरि मार्जयेत् ॥ १७५ ॥

Transliteration

dhṛtvā mūrdhni japenmaṃtramayutaṃ bandhamuktaye | yantrametallikhitvā tu mṛttikopari mārjayet || 175 ||

Translation

将此yantra置于头顶，为解脱系缚，当诵持其咒一万遍。既书此yantra之后，复当以之摩拭于泥土/陶土之上。

Word by Word

• धृत्वा: having placed/held
• धृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund)

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अयुतम्: ten thousand (times)
• अयुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् (मन्त्र-जप-संख्यायाम्)

• बन्ध-मुक्तये: for release from bondage
• बन्ध-मुक्तये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—बन्धस्य मुक्ति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• यन्त्रम्: the yantra
• यन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (यन्त्रम्)

• लिखित्वा: having written
• लिखित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund)

• तु: then/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः; अवधान/विरोध/अनन्तरार्थक (particle: but/then)

• मृत्तिका-उपरि: upon clay/earth
• मृत्तिका-उपरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक) + उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; उपरि-शब्दः (adverb/postposition)

• मार्जयेत्: should wipe/clean/smear
• मार्जयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue tradition answering Narada on technical rites)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It prescribes a concrete sādhanā for bandha-mukti: disciplined mantra-japa (fixed count of ten thousand) combined with yantra-prayoga, indicating that inner repetition and outer sacred form together are used to dissolve binding limitations.

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

While technical in tone, the practice relies on sustained, faithful repetition (japa) and reverent handling of a sacred yantra—both acts of focused surrender and remembrance that align the practitioner’s mind toward the deity/power invoked by the mantra.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights prayoga (procedural application) involving mantra-japa count (saṅkhyā-niyama) and yantra-lekhana (drawing/writing a yantra) with a material medium (mṛttikā), reflecting technical ritual method rather than narrative theology.