Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 147

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

Devanagari script

देवतास्य रदार्णस्य दिव्यपूर्वो नृकेसरी । पादैश्चतुर्भिः सर्वेण पञ्चाङ्गानि समाचरेत् ॥ १४७ ॥

Transliteration

devatāsya radārṇasya divyapūrvo nṛkesarī | pādaiścaturbhiḥ sarveṇa pañcāṅgāni samācaret || 147 ||

Translation

Die präsidierende Gottheit der Silbengruppe „radārṇa“ ist Nṛsiṃha, dem die göttliche Silbe vorangestellt ist. Mit allen vier Pādas des Mantras soll man ordnungsgemäß das fünfgliedrige (pañcāṅga) Ritualverfahren vollziehen.

Word by Word

• देवता: the deity
• देवता: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• रद-अर्णस्य: of (the mantra/series called) rada-arṇa
• रद-अर्णस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रद (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; समासः—रदानाम् अर्णम् (collection/series of syllables/letters termed ‘rada-arṇa’)

• दिव्य-पूर्वः: having ‘divya’ as the prefix/beginning
• दिव्य-पूर्वः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—दिव्यः पूर्वः (having a divine beginning/preceded by ‘divya’)

• नृ-केसरी: Nṛkeśarī (man-lion)
• नृ-केसरी: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक) + केसरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—नरः च केसरी इव/नरकेसरी (man-lion)

• पादैः: with (its) quarters/feet (i.e., pādas)
• पादैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• चतुर्भिः: with four
• चतुर्भिः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; सर्वलिङ्ग-प्रयोग (numeral adjective)

• सर्वेण: entirely / in full
• सर्वेण: करण/क्रियाविशेषण (Instrument/Adverbial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; अव्यक्त-समष्टि-अर्थे (in the sense of ‘entirely/wholly’)

• पञ्च-अङ्गानि: the five limbs (parts)
• पञ्च-अङ्गानि: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः—पञ्च अङ्गानि (five limbs/parts)

• समाचरेत्: should perform / should practice
• समाचरेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Nṛsiṃha

FAQs

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

It links a specific syllable/phoneme-group (radārṇa) to its presiding deity (Nṛsiṃha) and teaches that mantra-power is activated through complete, properly structured practice—using all four pādas and the full five-limbed ritual method.

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

By identifying Nṛsiṃha as the mantra’s devatā and insisting on complete performance, the verse frames bhakti as disciplined worship—devotion expressed through precise mantra-recitation and ritual observance focused on the chosen deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vedāṅga-style technical ritual knowledge: mantra segmentation into pādas (quarters) and the application of a pañcāṅga procedure (five ritual components), consistent with śikṣā/ritual methodology used to ensure correct recitation and deployment of mantras.