Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 128

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

एवं न्यस्तशरीरोऽसौ चिंतयेन्मंत्रदेवताम् । श्यामां शुकोक्तिं श्रृण्वंतीं न्यस्तैकांघ्रिशिरोरुहाम् ॥ १२८ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ nyastaśarīro'sau ciṃtayenmaṃtradevatām | śyāmāṃ śukoktiṃ śrṛṇvaṃtīṃ nyastaikāṃghriśiroruhām || 128 ||

Translation

如是以安置法（nyāsa）安定其身后，当观想真言之神：肤色幽黑，聆听鹦鹉所诵之语，一足踏于头顶之巅。

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• न्यस्तशरीरः: having placed/settled his body
• न्यस्तशरीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्यस्त-शरीर (प्रातिपदिक; components: न्यस्त (कृदन्त) + शरीर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘यस्य शरीरं न्यस्तम्’ (whose body is placed/settled)

• असौ: he
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• चिन्तयेत्: should contemplate
• चिन्तयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मन्त्रदेवताम्: the deity of the mantra
• मन्त्रदेवताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र-देवता (प्रातिपदिक; components: मन्त्र + देवता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्यामाम्: dark-complexioned
• श्यामाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्यामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of देवता)

• शुकोक्तिम्: parrot-speech / utterance of a parrot
• शुकोक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक-उक्ति (प्रातिपदिक; components: शुक + उक्ति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शृण्वन्तीम्: listening
• शृण्वन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √श्रु (धातु) + शृण्वत् (वर्तमान-कृदन्त/शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of देवता)

• न्यस्तैकाङ्घ्रिशिरोरुहाम्: with one foot placed upon the hair/topknot
• न्यस्तैकाङ्घ्रिशिरोरुहाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्यस्त-एक-अङ्घ्रि-शिरोरुह (प्रातिपदिक; components: न्यस्त + एक + अङ्घ्रि + शिरोरुह)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘यस्याः एकः अङ्घ्रिः शिरोरुहेषु न्यस्तः’ (with one foot placed on the hair/topknot)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Mantra-devatā
• Śuka (parrot)

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-sādhana is completed by dhyāna: after bodily placement/nyāsa, the sādhaka must inwardly visualize the mantra’s presiding deity with precise iconographic marks, making the mantra a living presence rather than mere sound.

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

By directing the practitioner to contemplate the mantra-devatā’s form and attention (listening to śuka-ukti), it frames practice as personal devotion—relating to the deity through focused remembrance and reverent visualization.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application of mantra through nyāsa and dhyāna is emphasized—technical procedure (prayoga) and correct mental visualization, aligning with auxiliary disciplines used in mantra-śāstra and ritual practice.