Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 103

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

Devanagari script

रक्षयुग्मं च वर्मास्त्रठद्वयान्तो ध्रुवादिकः । अष्टषष्ट्यक्षरैः प्रोक्तो ज्वालामाली मनूत्तमः ॥ १०३ ॥

Transliteration

rakṣayugmaṃ ca varmāstraṭhadvayānto dhruvādikaḥ | aṣṭaṣaṣṭyakṣaraiḥ prokto jvālāmālī manūttamaḥ || 103 ||

Translation

Dieses vortreffliche Mantra — beginnend mit den festen (dhruva) Silben, ein Paar Schutzworte (rakṣā) enthaltend und in der „Rüstung-und-Waffe“-Formel (varma–astra) mit zwei ṭha-Silben endend — wird als „Jvālāmālī“ gelehrt, aus achtundsechzig Silben bestehend, o Bester der Weisen.

Word by Word

• रक्ष-युग्मम्: the pair (repetition) of ‘rakṣa’
• रक्ष-युग्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु) + युग्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg); ‘रक्ष’ इति पदस्य युग्मम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• वर्म: ‘varma’ (armor)
• वर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg); मन्त्रपद-रूपेण

• अस्त्र: ‘astra’ (weapon)
• अस्त्र: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg); मन्त्रपद-रूपेण

• ठ-द्वय-अन्तः: ending with a double ‘ṭha’
• ठ-द्वय-अन्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ठ (वर्ण/बीज) + द्वय + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg); विशेषण; ‘ठ’ इति द्वयेन अन्तः यस्य

• ध्रुव-आदिकः: beginning with ‘dhruva’ etc.
• ध्रुव-आदिकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्रुव + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg); विशेषण; ‘ध्रुव’ इत्यादि-आरम्भकः

• अष्ट-षष्टि-अक्षरैः: with sixty-eight syllables
• अष्ट-षष्टि-अक्षरैः: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट + षष्टि + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचन (Instr pl); परिमाण/संख्या (by sixty-eight syllables)

• प्रोक्तः: is said/has been taught
• प्रोक्तः: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg)

• ज्वालामाली: Jvālāmālī
• ज्वालामाली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वाला-मालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg)

• मनु-उत्तमः: the best of mantras (lit. best Manu/mantra)
• मनु-उत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg); विशेषण-रूपेण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/vidya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It defines the formal structure (lakṣaṇa) of a specific protective mantra—‘Jvālāmālī’—showing that mantra-efficacy is linked to precise syllabic design, sequencing, and sanctioned components (rakṣā, varma, astra).

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

Even in a technical mantra context, the verse supports bhakti by framing protection and ritual discipline as aids to steady worship—removing obstacles so the practitioner can remain focused on dharma and devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-śāstra style precision: syllable-counting (akṣara-saṅkhyā), prescribed openings (dhruva), and endings (specific phonemes), aligning with śikṣā (phonetics) and ritual application within Vedic auxiliary sciences.