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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 145

The Exposition of Nṛsiṁha Worship-Mantras, Nyāsa, Mudrās, Yantras, Kavaca, and Nṛsiṁha Gāyatrī

नखदंष्ट्रायुधं भक्ताभयदं श्रीनिकेतनम् । तप्तहाटककेशान्तज्वलत्पावकलोचनम् ॥ १४५ ॥

nakhadaṃṣṭrāyudhaṃ bhaktābhayadaṃ śrīniketanam | taptahāṭakakeśāntajvalatpāvakalocanam || 145 ||

هو الذي سلاحه الأظفار والأنياب؛ واهبُ الأمان من الخوف للعبّاد؛ مسكنُ شري (لاكشمي)؛ أطرافُ شعره تتلألأ كذهبٍ مُحمّى، وعيناه تتوهّجان كالنار.

नख-दंष्ट्रा-आयुधम्having nails and fangs as weapons
नख-दंष्ट्रा-आयुधम्:
विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootनख (प्रातिपदिक) + दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समासः—नखदंष्ट्रे आयुधं यस्य/यत् (determinative)
भक्त-अभय-दम्giver of fearlessness to devotees
भक्त-अभय-दम्:
विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootभक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अभय (प्रातिपदिक) + द (√दा, धातु; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—भक्तेभ्यः अभयं ददाति इति (to devotees gives fearlessness)
श्री-निकेतनम्abode of Śrī (Lakṣmī)
श्री-निकेतनम्:
विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootश्री (प्रातिपदिक) + निकेतन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—श्रियाः निकेतनम् (abode of Lakṣmī)
तप्त-हाटक-केश-अन्त-ज्वलत्-पावक-लोचनम्whose eyes are like blazing fire, and whose hair-ends are like heated gold
तप्त-हाटक-केश-अन्त-ज्वलत्-पावक-लोचनम्:
विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootतप्त (√तप्, धातु; कृदन्त) + हाटक (प्रातिपदिक) + केश (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्वलत् (√ज्वल्, धातु; शतृ-कृदन्त) + पावक (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—तप्तहाटकवत् केशान्तः, तत्र ज्वलत्पावकवत् लोचने यस्य/यत्

Narada (in a didactic description of the deity’s form and epithets, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

V
Vishnu
N
Narasimha
L
Lakshmi (Sri)

FAQs

It presents Narasiṃha as the protective form of Viṣṇu—terrifying to adharma yet a direct refuge for devotees—emphasizing that divine power ultimately functions as abhaya (fearlessness) for bhaktas.

By naming the Lord as “bhaktābhayada” (giver of fearlessness to devotees), it teaches that surrender and remembrance of the Lord’s form and qualities is itself a practical bhakti method for inner security and protection.

The verse functions like a dhyāna/stotra-lakṣaṇa description used in ritual recitation: precise epithets and visual attributes support mantra-japa and worship procedure (prayoga), aligning with applied liturgical practice rather than a specific Vedāṅga rule.