Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

क्षं बीजं शक्तिरी प्रोक्ता षड्दीर्घेण षडङ्गकम् । अर्केन्दुवह्निनयनं शरदिन्दुरुचं करैः ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

kṣaṃ bījaṃ śaktirī proktā ṣaḍdīrgheṇa ṣaḍaṅgakam | arkenduvahninayanaṃ śaradindurucaṃ karaiḥ || 4 ||

Translation

حرفُ البِذرة (بيجا) هو «kṣaṃ»، والقوّة (شاكتي) مُعلَنةٌ أنها «ī». وبالمدود الستة يصير ذلك سَدْأَنْغا (الأعضاء الستة) لِلنْياسا. وليتأمّل العابدُ الإلهَ ذا عيونٍ كالشمس والقمر والنار، متلألئاً كضياء قمر الخريف، ذا أيدٍ إلهية.

Word by Word

• क्षम्: “kṣaṃ” (seed syllable)
• क्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षम् (अव्यय/बीजाक्षर-रूप)
• Form: अव्यय; बीजाक्षर (seed syllable) used as mantra-sound

• बीजम्: the seed (syllable)
• बीजम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular (seed)

• शक्तिः: the śakti
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular (power)

• ई: “ī” (vowel-syllable)
• ई: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ई (अव्यय/बीजाक्षर-रूप)
• Form: अव्यय; बीजाक्षर/मातृका-स्वर (mantric vowel ‘ī’)

• प्रोक्ता: is declared
• प्रोक्ता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रोक्त (कृदन्त; प्र-√वच् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; past passive participle agreeing with ‘śaktiḥ’ (is declared)

• षड्दीर्घेण: with six long (sounds)
• षड्दीर्घेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; द्विगु (षट् दीर्घाः) instrumental: with six long vowels/sounds

• षडङ्गकम्: the sixfold limbs
• षडङ्गकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + अङ्गक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु (षड् अङ्गानि) = six-limbed (nyāsa/anga)

• अर्केन्दुवह्निनयनम्: having eyes like sun, moon, and fire
• अर्केन्दुवह्निनयनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्क + इन्दु + वह्नि + नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (अर्क-इन्दु-वह्नि-सदृशं नयनं यस्य/अर्केन्दुवह्नयः नयनानि) used as descriptive epithet

• शरदिन्दुरुचम्: with the radiance of the autumn moon
• शरदिन्दुरुचम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरद् + इन्दु + रुच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शरदि इन्दोः रुचिः इव) = with autumn-moon radiance

• करैः: with (his) hands
• करैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; instrumental plural (with hands)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It encodes a complete mantra-practice unit: bīja (seed), śakti (energizing syllable), ṣaḍaṅga (sixfold protective/ritual limbs), and devatā-dhyāna (visualization), showing that mantra is not only sound but also disciplined ritual application and contemplation.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as focused worship through mantra and meditation—fixing the mind on the deity’s luminous form (moon-like radiance and powerful eyes) while applying nyāsa, turning devotion into steady, embodied remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-mantra procedure (prayoga) is highlighted: using bīja and śakti syllables and applying ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa (a standard technical method in mantra-śāstra aligned with Vedic auxiliary disciplines of correct recitation and ritual performance).