Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 145

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

Devanagari script

नखदंष्ट्रायुधं भक्ताभयदं श्रीनिकेतनम् । तप्तहाटककेशान्तज्वलत्पावकलोचनम् ॥ १४५ ॥

Transliteration

nakhadaṃṣṭrāyudhaṃ bhaktābhayadaṃ śrīniketanam | taptahāṭakakeśāntajvalatpāvakalocanam || 145 ||

Translation

Er, dessen Waffen Nägel und Fangzähne sind; der den Bhaktas Furchtlosigkeit schenkt; die Wohnstatt Śrīs (Lakṣmī); dessen Haarspitzen wie erhitztes Gold leuchten und dessen Augen wie Feuer lodern.

Word by Word

• नख-दंष्ट्रा-आयुधम्: having nails and fangs as weapons
• नख-दंष्ट्रा-आयुधम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नख (प्रातिपदिक) + दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समासः—नखदंष्ट्रे आयुधं यस्य/यत् (determinative)

• भक्त-अभय-दम्: giver of fearlessness to devotees
• भक्त-अभय-दम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अभय (प्रातिपदिक) + द (√दा, धातु; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—भक्तेभ्यः अभयं ददाति इति (to devotees gives fearlessness)

• श्री-निकेतनम्: abode of Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• श्री-निकेतनम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + निकेतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—श्रियाः निकेतनम् (abode of Lakṣmī)

• तप्त-हाटक-केश-अन्त-ज्वलत्-पावक-लोचनम्: whose eyes are like blazing fire, and whose hair-ends are like heated gold
• तप्त-हाटक-केश-अन्त-ज्वलत्-पावक-लोचनम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप्त (√तप्, धातु; कृदन्त) + हाटक (प्रातिपदिक) + केश (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्वलत् (√ज्वल्, धातु; शतृ-कृदन्त) + पावक (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—तप्तहाटकवत् केशान्तः, तत्र ज्वलत्पावकवत् लोचने यस्य/यत्

Speaker

Narada (in a didactic description of the deity’s form and epithets, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Narasimha
• Lakshmi (Sri)

FAQs

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

It presents Narasiṃha as the protective form of Viṣṇu—terrifying to adharma yet a direct refuge for devotees—emphasizing that divine power ultimately functions as abhaya (fearlessness) for bhaktas.

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

By naming the Lord as “bhaktābhayada” (giver of fearlessness to devotees), it teaches that surrender and remembrance of the Lord’s form and qualities is itself a practical bhakti method for inner security and protection.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse functions like a dhyāna/stotra-lakṣaṇa description used in ritual recitation: precise epithets and visual attributes support mantra-japa and worship procedure (prayoga), aligning with applied liturgical practice rather than a specific Vedāṅga rule.