Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 193

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

Devanagari script

नेत्र वर्मास्त्रमुच्चार्य्यप्राणाधार इतीरयेत् । आदिदेवपदात्प्राणापानपश्चान्निविष्टितः ॥ १९३ ॥

Transliteration

netra varmāstramuccāryyaprāṇādhāra itīrayet | ādidevapadātprāṇāpānapaścānniviṣṭitaḥ || 193 ||

Translation

Nachdem man die Mantras von „netra“ (Augenschutz), „varman“ (Rüstung) und „astra“ (Waffe) ausgesprochen hat, soll man sodann die Formel „prāṇādhāra“ — die Stütze des Lebensatems — sprechen. Danach sind, ausgehend von der Stelle des Ādi-deva, prāṇa und apāna der Vorschrift gemäß nacheinander im Körper zu setzen.

Word by Word

• नेत्र: netra (eye)
• नेत्र: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter; nominative/accusative singular; ‘eye’)

• वर्म-अस्त्रम्: varma-astra (armor-weapon)
• वर्म-अस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter; accusative singular; ‘armor-weapon’ as a mantra/term)

• उच्चार्य: having uttered
• उच्चार्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-चर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having uttered/pronounced’

• प्राण-आधारः: prāṇādhāra (support of prāṇa)
• प्राण-आधारः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine; nominative singular; mantra-name/term)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्तिसूचक-अव्यय (quotative)

• ईरयेत्: should utter/recite
• ईरयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (optative; 3rd person singular)

• आदि-देव-पदात्: from the ‘ādideva’ word/position
• आदि-देव-पदात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन (neuter; ablative singular; ‘from the word “ādideva”/from the ādideva-position’)

• प्राण-अपान-पश्चात्: after prāṇa and apāna
• प्राण-अपान-पश्चात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + अपान (प्रातिपदिक) + पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (पश्चात्), क्रमवाचक (indeclinable: ‘after prāṇa and apāna’)

• निविष्टितः: (is) placed/inserted
• निविष्टितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine; nominative singular; ‘placed/entered’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the technical procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Adi-deva
• Prana
• Apana

FAQs

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

It presents a ritual-technical sequence where protective mantras (netra–varman–astra) are followed by establishing the ‘support of prāṇa’, indicating that inner pranic stabilization is essential for effective mantra practice.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined upāsanā: protection, purity, and ordered inner placement of prāṇa/apāna are treated as supportive limbs that steady the devotee for focused remembrance and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual procedure—mantra-ucchāraṇa (correct recitation) and nyāsa-like installation of prāṇa/apāna—showing the technical side of Vedic practice aligned with disciplined pronunciation and method.