Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 176

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

Devanagari script

ज्वरान्ते डाकिनी कृत्याध्वरेवतीभयं ततः । अशन्यन्ते भयं दुर्भिक्षभयं मारीशब्दतः ॥ १७६ ॥

Transliteration

jvarānte ḍākinī kṛtyādhvarevatībhayaṃ tataḥ | aśanyante bhayaṃ durbhikṣabhayaṃ mārīśabdataḥ || 176 ||

Translation

Am Ende des Fiebers entsteht Furcht vor den Ḍākinīs, vor bösartigen Riten (kṛtyā) und vor Adhvarevatī. Dann, wenn Donner und Blitz verhallen, erhebt sich Furcht; und aus dem unheilvollen Ruf der mārī entsteht die Furcht vor Hungersnot.

Word by Word

• ज्वर-अन्ते: at the end of fever
• ज्वर-अन्ते: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘ज्वरान्त’ = तत्पुरुष (ज्वरस्य अन्तः)

• डाकिनी: ḍākinī (a female spirit)
• डाकिनी: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: डाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कृत्या-अध्वरेवती-भयम्: fear of kṛtyā and adhvarevatī
• कृत्या-अध्वरेवती-भयम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्या (प्रातिपदिक) + अध्वरेवती (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (कृत्या च अध्वरेवती च) + भयम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तर (then/thereafter)

• अशनि-अन्ते: at the end of (the word) ‘aśani’ / at thunderbolt’s end
• अशनि-अन्ते: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशनि (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘अशन्यन्ते’ = अशनि + अन्ते (यण्-सन्धि: इ + अ → य)

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दुर्भिक्ष-भयम्: fear of famine
• दुर्भिक्ष-भयम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्भिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दुर्भिक्षस्य भयम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मारी-शब्दतः: from the word ‘mārī’
• मारी-शब्दतः: अपादान (Source/Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मारी (प्रातिपदिक) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पञ्चमी-अर्थे तसिल् ‘-तः’; ‘मारीशब्द’ = तत्पुरुष (मारी-शब्दः)

Speaker

Sage Nārada (in dialogue with Sanatkumāra tradition; technical śānti/portent listing)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Dakini
• Kṛtyā
• Adhvarevatī
• Mārī

FAQs

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

The verse catalogs fear-producing portents (ariṣṭa) linked to illness, atmospheric phenomena, and ominous cries, indicating the Purāṇic-Vedāṅga concern with recognizing inauspicious signs and responding through śānti (pacificatory) discipline rather than panic.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports a devotional life by urging vigilance and recourse to dharmic remedies (śānti, mantra, protective observances) so the devotee remains steady in worship and does not become overwhelmed by fear of spirits, disease, or scarcity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied Jyotiṣa/ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇa thinking—interpreting events like illness-ends, thunder, and ominous sounds as indicators requiring śānti-prayoga (pacificatory ritual measures) and prāyaścitta-oriented conduct.