Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 168

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

Devanagari script

बको हरिः सहस्रान्ते मूर्ते एह्येहि शब्दतः । भगवन्नृसिंहपुरुष क्रोधेश्वर रसा सह ॥ १६८ ॥

Transliteration

bako hariḥ sahasrānte mūrte ehyehi śabdataḥ | bhagavannṛsiṃhapuruṣa krodheśvara rasā saha || 168 ||

Translation

Am Ende der Tausendzahl wurde Hari—offenbar in der Gestalt Baka—durch den bloßen Ruf „Komm, komm!“ angerufen: „O Bhagavān, o Narasiṃha-Puruṣa, o Herr des Zorns—komm zusammen mit rasa, der Lebensessenz und Kraft.“

Word by Word

• bakaḥ: Baka (name)
• bakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: baka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper/name-like usage

• hariḥ: Hari
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sahasra-ante: at the thousandth/end of a thousand
• sahasra-ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुषः = 'at the end of a thousand' (i.e., in the thousandth/end position)

• mūrte: in the form
• mūrte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; 'in the form/embodiment'

• ehī: come!
• ehī: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √i (धातु) with prefix ā (आगच्छ) implied; form from √i 'to go/come'
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यम), Singular; Vedic/epic imperative 'come!'

• ehi: come!
• ehi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √i (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यम), Singular; 'come!'

• śabdataḥ: by the utterance/verbally
• śabdataḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially (पञ्चमी-प्रयोग) = 'by/through the word/sound; verbally'

• bhagavan: O Lord
• bhagavan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• nṛsiṃha-puruṣa: O Nṛsiṃha-person
• nṛsiṃha-puruṣa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛsiṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; कर्मधारयः = 'O man-lion person (Nṛsiṃha)'

• krodha-īśvara: O lord of wrath
• krodha-īśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; तत्पुरुषः = 'O lord of wrath'

• rasāḥ: rasas/essences
• rasāḥ: Sahakārī (सहकारी/associated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; 'juices/essences/rasas'

• saha: with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Preposition-like indeclinable = 'with'

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Narasimha

FAQs

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

It highlights the Purāṇic principle that sacred sound (śabda) and disciplined repetition (a counted sahasra) function as a direct invocation of Hari, especially in the fierce protective form of Narasiṃha.

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

Bhakti is shown as an active calling of the Lord—addressing Him personally (“O Bhagavan…”) and inviting His presence—where “rasa” indicates the lived devotional relish/inner vitality that accompanies true worship, not mere recitation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes mantra-prayoga: the efficacy of precise utterance (śabdataḥ) and counted recitation (sahasra), aligning with Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (correct form of words) as practical supports for ritual and japa.