Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 123

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

Devanagari script

एशान्यां पुण्डरीकाक्षः श्रीधरः पट्टिशायुधः । विद्युत्प्रभो हृषीकेश ऊर्द्ध्वे पातु समुद्गरः ॥ १२३ ॥

Transliteration

eśānyāṃ puṇḍarīkākṣaḥ śrīdharaḥ paṭṭiśāyudhaḥ | vidyutprabho hṛṣīkeśa ūrddhve pātu samudgaraḥ || 123 ||

Translation

Im Nordosten (Īśāna) möge Puṇḍarīkākṣa—Śrīdhara, der die Waffe paṭṭiśa trägt—mich beschützen. Von oben möge Hṛṣīkeśa Vidyutprabha, blitzgleich strahlend, mit dem Hammer (samudgara) bewaffnet, mich behüten.

Word by Word

• eśānyām: in the northeast
• eśānyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eśānī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; 'in the northeast (Īśāna-direction)'

• puṇḍarīka-akṣaḥ: Puṇḍarīkākṣa (lotus-eyed)
• puṇḍarīka-akṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇḍarīka (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi 'whose eyes are white lotuses'

• śrī-dharaḥ: Śrīdhara
• śrī-dharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa 'bearer of Śrī (Lakṣmī)'

• paṭṭiśa-āyudhaḥ: armed with a battle-axe
• paṭṭiśa-āyudhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṭṭiśa (प्रातिपदिक) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi 'whose weapon is a paṭṭiśa (battle-axe)'

• vidyut-prabhaḥ: lightning-bright
• vidyut-prabhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidyut (प्रातिपदिक) + prabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; epithet

• hṛṣīkeśa: O Hṛṣīkeśa
• hṛṣīkeśa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛṣīkeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana; direct address

• ūrddhve: above (in the upper region)
• ūrddhve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūrddhva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī, Ekavacana; 'in/at the upper (region)'

• pātu: may (he) protect
• pātu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (पा, धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (imperative/आज्ञार्थ), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• samudgaraḥ: Samudgara (hammer)
• samudgaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; weapon-name (hammer/mace)

Speaker

Narada (in a kavacha-style recitation taught within the Narada Purana’s technical/mantra context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Puṇḍarīkākṣa, Śrīdhara, Hṛṣīkeśa)

FAQs

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

It invokes Vishnu’s specific names, forms, and weapons as a protective seal (kavacha), mapping divine guardianship to directions (north-east) and to the space above, reinforcing surrender (śaraṇāgati) and remembrance (smaraṇa) as spiritual protection.

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

Bhakti is expressed through concentrated remembrance of Vishnu’s epithets—Puṇḍarīkākṣa, Śrīdhara, Hṛṣīkeśa—treating the Lord not as abstract, but as a personally protective presence pervading all directions and realms.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied mantra-prayoga: directional assignment (dik-bandhana) and kavacha-style recitation, a practical ritual technology aligned with Vedic auxiliary disciplines used to structure chanting and protective rites.