Shloka 8

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Aṣṭākṣarī Maṇḍala-Pūjā and Nyāsa

Devanagari script

पंचांगं वैष्णवं चैव चतुर्व्यूहं तथैव च । करशुद्धिं प्रकुर्वीत मूलमंत्रेण साधकः ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

paṃcāṃgaṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ caiva caturvyūhaṃ tathaiva ca | karaśuddhiṃ prakurvīta mūlamaṃtreṇa sādhakaḥ || 8 ||

Translation

修行者应行毗湿奴派之五支法（pañcāṅga），并观想四重化现（catur-vyūha）；又当以根本真言（mūla-mantra）作手部净化（kara-śuddhi）。

Word by Word

• pañca-aṅgam: the fivefold set (pañcāṅga)
• pañca-aṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vaiṣṇavam: Vaiṣṇava
• vaiṣṇavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaiṣṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying 'pañcāṅgam'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• catur-vyūham: the fourfold emanation (caturvyūha)
• catur-vyūham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक) + vyūha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• kara-śuddhim: purification of the hands
• kara-śuddhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक) + śuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• prakurvīta: should perform
• prakurvīta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• mūla-mantreṇa: with the root-mantra
• mūla-mantreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sādhakaḥ: the practitioner
• sādhakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that devotion to Viṣṇu is supported by disciplined preparation—mantra-based purification and structured auxiliaries—so worship becomes inwardly focused and ritually correct.

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

Bhakti here is not merely emotion; it is cultivated through attentive Vaiṣṇava practice—remembering Viṣṇu’s forms (the Vyūhas) and using the mūla-mantra with purity and concentration.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and mantra-application are highlighted—especially preparatory purification (kara-śuddhi) and structured worship-limbs, reflecting applied śikṣā/mantra-prayoga and āgamic-style discipline within Purāṇic instruction.