Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 138

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

Devanagari script

प्रचटद्वयमाभाष्य कहयुग्मन च मद्वयम् । बन्धद्वयं घातयेति द्वयं वर्मास्त्रमीरयेत् ॥ १३८ ॥

Transliteration

pracaṭadvayamābhāṣya kahayugmana ca madvayam | bandhadvayaṃ ghātayeti dvayaṃ varmāstramīrayet || 138 ||

Translation

Nachdem man „pracaṭa“ zweimal gesprochen hat, dann „kaha“ als Paar und „ma“ zweimal; und nachdem man zweimal die Wendung „schlage die zwei Fesseln“ ausgesprochen hat, soll man so die Varmāstra rezitieren—das schützende Waffen-Mantra.

Word by Word

• प्रचट-द्वयम्: the pair ‘pracaṭa’
• प्रचट-द्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रचट (प्रातिपदिक/मन्त्रपद) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘pair of “pracaṭa”’

• आभाष्य: having uttered
• आभाष्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + भाष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having uttered/spoken’

• कह-युग्मम्: the pair ‘kaha’
• कह-युग्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कह (मन्त्राक्षर) + युग्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘pair (yugma) of “kaha”’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (and)

• म-द्वयम्: the pair ‘ma’
• म-द्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: म (वर्ण) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘pair of “ma”’

• बन्ध-द्वयम्: the pair ‘bandha’
• बन्ध-द्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक/मन्त्रपद) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘pair of “bandha”’

• घातयेति: “ghātayeti” (the uttered form)
• घातयेति: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घातय् (धातु: णिच् causative of हन्/घात)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; quoted mantra-form ‘(he) causes to strike/kill’

• द्वयम्: a pair (twice)
• द्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वर्मास्त्रम्: the armor-weapon (varmāstra)
• वर्मास्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्म + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘armor-weapon’ (protective missile)

• ईरयेत्: should utter/recite
• ईरयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on technical mantra/vidya usage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It gives a precise recitation-sequence for a protective mantra (Varmāstra), emphasizing that correct phonetic repetition and order are integral to removing “bonds” (obstructions) and establishing spiritual/ritual protection.

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

Indirectly: it supports devotional life by prescribing a protection-practice that removes hindrances (“bandha”), enabling steadiness in japa, worship, and disciplined dharma—common prerequisites for sustained Vishnu-bhakti in Purāṇic practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-vidhi: the verse stresses exact repetition-counts and syllabic order, reflecting the Vedāṅga principle that correct sound and sequence are essential in ritual and technical recitation.