Shloka 31

Navavyūha-pūjāvidhi: Bhūta-śuddhi, Nyāsa, Yogapīṭha, Maṇḍala-racanā, Mudrā-prayoga

Devanagari script

अङ्गुष्ठेन कनिष्ठान्तं नामयित्वाङ्गुलित्रयम् / मुद्रेयं नरसिंहस्य न्युब्जं कृत्वा करद्वयम्

Transliteration

aṅguṣṭhena kaniṣṭhāntaṃ nāmayitvāṅgulitrayam / mudreyaṃ narasiṃhasya nyubjaṃ kṛtvā karadvayam

Translation

Bending the tip of the little finger with the thumb and folding the three fingers, one should form with both hands the Narasiṃha mudrā, keeping the hands turned downward.

Word by Word

• अङ्गुष्ठेन: with the thumb
• अङ्गुष्ठेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• कनिष्ठान्तम्: up to the little finger-end / the little-finger side
• कनिष्ठान्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनिष्ठा + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—कनिष्ठान्त (कनिष्ठायाः अन्तः) इति तत्पुरुषः

• नामयित्वा: having bent
• नामयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नामय् (णिजन्त) < नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); धातुः—नम् (नमने) णिजन्त ‘नामयति’ = ‘वक्रयति/नमयति’; अर्थः ‘नामयित्वा’ = ‘bending’

• अङ्गुलि-त्रयम्: the three fingers
• अङ्गुलि-त्रयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुलि + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (त्रयम् अङ्गुलीनाम्)

• मुद्रा: the mudrā
• मुद्रा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नरसिंहस्य: of Narasiṃha
• नरसिंहस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; समासः—नरसिंह (नरः सिंह इव) इति कर्मधारय-प्रायः (परम्परया तत्पुरुषवत् नामसमासः)

• न्युब्जम्: turned downward / inverted
• न्युब्जम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्युब्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अवस्था-वाचक)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); धातुः—कृ (करणे)

• कर-द्वयम्: both hands
• कर-द्वयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (द्वौ करौ)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodied devotion: the deity’s śakti is invoked through specific hand-forms; form (ākāra) supports inner recollection (smaraṇa).

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa-upāsanā as a means to steadiness and fearlessness; īśvara-anugraha mediated through disciplined practice.

Application: Form the mudrā symmetrically with both hands; keep wrists steady and intention protective (rakṣā-bhāva) while reciting Narasiṃha-related mantra if given in the section.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/inner-space (mudrā-śarīra)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.11 (mudrā-vidhi context); Garuda Purana 1.11 (subsequent Varāha and aṅga-mudrā instructions)

Characters & Entities

• Narasimha
• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of Narasiṃha mudrā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Narasiṃha mudrā as a precise ritual gesture, implying protective and dharmic intent through correct hand formation in worship/practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes ritual correctness and protective sacred practice, which the Garuda Purana often links to safeguarding the practitioner and maintaining dharma that supports auspicious outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a reference for accurate traditional practice: learn the correct finger placement and perform the mudrā with reverence in Narasiṃha-related devotion or protective prayer.