Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 117

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

Devanagari script

पद्मनाभः स्तनौ पातु शीर्षं दामोदरोऽवतु । एवं विन्यस्य चाङ्गेषु जपकाले तु साधकः ॥ ११७ ॥

Transliteration

padmanābhaḥ stanau pātu śīrṣaṃ dāmodaro'vatu | evaṃ vinyasya cāṅgeṣu japakāle tu sādhakaḥ || 117 ||

Translation

„Möge Padmanābha meine Brust schützen; möge Dāmodara mein Haupt behüten.“ Nachdem der Übende so die Namen des Herrn auf die Glieder gelegt hat (Nyāsa), soll er zur rechten Zeit mit dem Japa fortfahren.

Word by Word

• पद्मनाभः: Padmanābha (lotus-naveled)
• पद्मनाभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म + नाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पद्मस्य नाभिः यस्य)

• स्तनौ: (the two) breasts/chest
• स्तनौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शीर्षम्: head
• शीर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीर्षन्/शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दामोदरः: Dāmodara
• दामोदरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दामन् + उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दाम्नः उदरं यस्य)

• अवतु: may (he) protect
• अवतु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Avyaya (अव्यय/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• विन्यस्य: having placed (assigned)
• विन्यस्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having placed/assigned’

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अङ्गेषु: in the limbs
• अङ्गेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• जपकाले: at the time of japa
• जपकाले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जपस्य कालः)

• तु: indeed/then
• तु: Avyaya (अव्यय/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• साधकः: the practitioner
• साधकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual context within the Narada Purana’s Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Padmanabha
• Damodara

FAQs

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

It teaches a protective, devotion-centered nyāsa: invoking Viṣṇu’s names on specific body-parts so the practitioner’s body and mind become sanctified instruments for japa.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as intimate reliance on the Lord’s names—Padmanābha and Dāmodara—seeking His guardianship before recitation, turning japa into surrendered, personal worship rather than mere technique.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual procedure (prayoga) used alongside mantra practice—nyāsa/anga-vinyāsa and timing of japa—reflecting the technical discipline characteristic of Vedanga-adjacent instruction in the Purana.