Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 189

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

प्राग्रक्षोऽनिलकोणेषु श्रियं शिष्टेषु संविदम् । षट्सु संधिषु षट्कर्णे केसरेषु त्रिशस्त्रिशः ॥ १८९ ॥

Transliteration

prāgrakṣo'nilakoṇeṣu śriyaṃ śiṣṭeṣu saṃvidam | ṣaṭsu saṃdhiṣu ṣaṭkarṇe kesareṣu triśastriśaḥ || 189 ||

Translation

于东方（前方）安置“Rakṣaḥ”；于风方之诸角安置“Anila”。其余诸位安置“Śrī”，并同样安置“Saṃvid”。在六处交会点——六角形之内——书于莲丝之上，每处各书三三为组。

Word by Word

• prāk: in front/first
• prāk: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāk (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; direction/time adverb ‘in front/earlier’

• rakṣaḥ: a protective (mark)/rakṣas
• rakṣaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; here as item to be placed/inscribed (contextual)

• anila-koṇeṣu: in the air-corners
• anila-koṇeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anila (प्रातिपदिक) + koṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; ‘in the wind-corners’

• śriyam: Śrī (prosperity)
• śriyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• śiṣṭeṣu: in the remaining (ones)
• śiṣṭeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; ‘in the remaining (places)’

• saṃvidam: Saṃvid (awareness/knowledge)
• saṃvidam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃvid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• ṣaṭsu: in six
• ṣaṭsu: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सर्वलिङ्ग), सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; numeral ‘in six’

• saṃdhiṣu: in the junctions
• saṃdhiṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃdhi (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन

• ṣaṭ-karṇe: in the six-cornered (one)
• ṣaṭ-karṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (प्रातिपदिक) + karṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; agrees with (implied) padma/ambuja; ‘in the six-eared/six-cornered (figure)’

• kesareṣu: in the filaments
• kesareṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kesara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन

• triśaḥ: three each
• triśaḥ: Pramāṇa (प्रमाण/वितरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: triśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; distributive adverb ‘three each/threefold’

• triśaḥ: three each
• triśaḥ: Pramāṇa (प्रमाण/वितरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: triśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; repetition for emphasis/distribution

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/Vedanga-leaning context, typically to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• Anila (Vāyu)

FAQs

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

It teaches a disciplined, directional “placement” (vinyāsa/nyāsa) of sacred terms within a geometric-lotus layout, emphasizing protection (rakṣaḥ), life-force (anila), auspiciousness (śrī), and awakened understanding (saṃvid) as a ritualized ordering of consciousness.

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

By prescribing orderly placement of auspicious and protective principles, it frames ritual precision as supportive to bhakti—creating an inward and outward sacred space where devotion can remain steady and undisturbed.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical ritual science—directional assignment (dik), geometric construction (ṣaṭkarṇa), and structured inscription/placement on lotus-sections—skills aligned with kalpa-style procedural knowledge used in mantra-ritual practice.