Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

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

Devanagari script

कोटिपूर्णेन्दुवर्णं च सुमुखं त्र् यक्षिवीक्षणम् । पीतवस्त्रोरुभूषाढ्यं नृसिहं शान्तविग्रहम् । चक्रशङ्खाभयवरान्दधतं करपल्लवैः ॥ ७० ॥

Transliteration

koṭipūrṇenduvarṇaṃ ca sumukhaṃ tr yakṣivīkṣaṇam | pītavastrorubhūṣāḍhyaṃ nṛsihaṃ śāntavigraham | cakraśaṅkhābhayavarāndadhataṃ karapallavaiḥ || 70 ||

Translation

تأمّل في الربّ نَرَسِمْهَا: لونه كأنّه كُرورٌ من الأقمار المكتملة، ذو وجهٍ بهيّ ونظرةٍ ذات ثلاث عيون؛ لابسٌ ثوبًا أصفر ومتحلٍّ بحُليٍّ جليلة؛ هادئ الهيئة، وفي كفّيه الرقيقتين كبتلات اللوتس يحمل القرص والصدفة وإشارة الأمان وإشارة منح النِّعَم.

Word by Word

• koṭi-pūrṇa-indu-varṇam: having the color of a moon full like (as if) millions (of moons)
• koṭi-pūrṇa-indu-varṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: koṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrṇa (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + indu (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (descriptive adjective)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• su-mukham: beautiful-faced
• su-mukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• tri-akṣi-vīkṣaṇam: having a three-eyed gaze
• tri-akṣi-vīkṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + vīkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• pīta-vastra-uru-bhūṣā-āḍhyam: rich in broad ornaments and yellow garments
• pīta-vastra-uru-bhūṣā-āḍhyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīta (कृदन्त, √pā/पिब् ‘to drink’ → past participle ‘yellow’) + vastra (प्रातिपदिक) + uru (प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण) + bhūṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• nṛ-siṃham: Nṛsiṃha
• nṛ-siṃham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śānta-vigraham: of peaceful form
• śānta-vigraham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + vigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying nṛsiṃham)

• cakra-śaṅkha-abhaya-varān: the discus, conch, fearlessness (gesture), and boon (gesture)
• cakra-śaṅkha-abhaya-varān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + abhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (collective listing)

• dadhatam: bearing/holding
• dadhatam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन नपुंसक/पुं (contextually agreeing with nṛsiṃham as accusative: ‘bearing’ as participle qualifying)

• kara-pallavaiḥ: with tender hand-lotus-like palms
• kara-pallavaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक) + pallava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching a dhyāna/visualization of Narasiṃha within the instructional flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narasimha
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It gives a precise dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconography) of Narasiṃha—fixing the mind on his luminous, serene form and divine attributes so devotion becomes steady and fear is pacified.

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

Bhakti is expressed through contemplative remembrance (smaraṇa/dhyāna): visualizing the Lord’s beauty, peace, and protecting gestures (abhaya) deepens surrender and trust in Vishnu as Narasiṃha.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied śāstra-prayoga—using standardized dhyāna descriptors (form, color, weapons, mudrās) for correct ritual/meditation practice, aligning iconographic precision with mantra-upāsanā.