Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

नृसिंहसान्निध्यकरो न्यासो दशविधो यथा । कराङ्घ्र्यष्टाद्यङ्गुलीषु पृथगाद्यन्तपर्वणोः ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

nṛsiṃhasānnidhyakaro nyāso daśavidho yathā | karāṅghryaṣṭādyaṅgulīṣu pṛthagādyantaparvaṇoḥ || 20 ||

Translation

Die Nyāsa, die die nahe Gegenwart des Herrn Nṛsiṁha herbeiführt, ist zehnfach, wie vorgeschrieben—sie wird getrennt an den acht Fingern von Händen und Füßen vollzogen, an den ersten und letzten Gelenken.

Word by Word

• नृसिंह-सान्निध्य-करः: (that) which produces the presence of Narasiṃha
• नृसिंह-सान्निध्य-करः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृसिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + सान्निध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सान्निध्यं करोतीति)

• न्यासः: nyāsa (ritual placement)
• न्यासः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दश-विधः: tenfold
• दश-विधः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संख्यापूर्वक-तत्पुरुषः

• यथा: as (follows)
• यथा: सम्बन्ध/प्रकार (Relation/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (adverb: 'as, in the manner')

• कर-अङ्घ्रि-अष्ट-आद्य-अङ्गुलीषु: on the eight fingers etc. of hands and feet
• कर-अङ्घ्रि-अष्ट-आद्य-अङ्गुलीषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; समासः (करयोः अङ्घ्र्योः च अष्टाद्याः अङ्गुल्यः)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'separately')

• आदि-अन्त-पर्वणोः: of the first and last joints
• आदि-अन्त-पर्वणोः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुषः (आद्यन्तयोः पर्वणी)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the technical procedure of nyāsa)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Nṛsiṁha
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

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

It teaches that nyāsa is not merely a physical gesture but a disciplined mantra-installation meant to invoke the living presence (sānnidhya) of Lord Nṛsiṁha in the practitioner’s body and awareness.

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

By prescribing a precise devotional ritual (nyāsa) directed to Nṛsiṁha, it frames bhakti as embodied remembrance—bringing the Lord near through reverent, rule-based mantra practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual-technical procedure—systematic nyāsa placement on specific body points (fingers and joints), reflecting the Narada Purana’s Book 1.3 focus on applied sacred sciences and correct ritual method.