Shloka 1

Śiva’s Narasiṃha-Stotra and the Pacification of the Mātṛgaṇas

Devanagari script

नाम त्रिंशदुत्तरद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच / नारसिंहस्तुतिं वक्ष्ये शिवोक्तं शौनकाधुना / पूर्वं मातृगणाः सर्वे शङ्करं वाक्यमब्रुवन्

Transliteration

nāma triṃśaduttaradviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca / nārasiṃhastutiṃ vakṣye śivoktaṃ śaunakādhunā / pūrvaṃ mātṛgaṇāḥ sarve śaṅkaraṃ vākyamabruvan

Translation

Sūta said: “Now begins the two-hundred-and-thirty-first chapter. I shall relate the hymn to Lord Narasiṃha—spoken by Śiva and taught to Śaunaka. Formerly, all the hosts of the Mother-goddesses (Mātṛgaṇas) addressed words to Śaṅkara (Śiva).”

Word by Word

• नाम: (entitled)
• नाम: Sambandha (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), अध्याय-शीर्षक-निर्देशक ‘named/called’

• त्रिंशत्-उत्तर-द्विशततमः: two-hundred-and-thirtieth
• त्रिंशत्-उत्तर-द्विशततमः: Visheshana (Qualifier of अध्यायः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिंशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + द्विशततम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संख्या-समास/तत्पुरुषः: ‘द्विशततमात् त्रिंशदुत्तरः’ (= 230th)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/heading)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (Speaker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदी

• नारसिंहस्तुतिम्: hymn to Narasiṃha
• नारसिंहस्तुतिम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारसिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नरसिंहस्य स्तुतिः)

• वक्ष्ये: I will speak
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदी

• शिवोक्तम्: spoken by Śiva
• शिवोक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier of स्तुतिम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवेन उक्तम्)

• शौनक: O Śaunaka
• शौनक: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Kala-adhikarana (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), कालवाचक ‘now’

• पूर्वम्: formerly
• पूर्वम्: Kala-adhikarana (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘formerly/earlier’

• मातृगणाः: the groups of Mothers (Mātṛs)
• मातृगणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मातॄणां गणाः)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier of मातृगणाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शङ्करम्: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शङ्करम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: words/speech
• वाक्यम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अब्रुवन्: said/spoke
• अब्रुवन्: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदी

Speaker

Sūta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Stotra as a means of protection and grace; sanctity of transmission through revered speakers (Śiva, Śaunaka, Sūta).

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-pramāṇa and guru-paramparā; the Lord approached through nāma-stuti; īśvara-anugraha mediated by devotion.

Application: Receive and recite protective hymns with faith; honor authentic lineages; begin spiritual practice with śravaṇa (hearing) and kīrtana (praise).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: forest-āśrama/sacrificial grove

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.231.2–4 (Mātṛgaṇas’ request and ensuing crisis leading to need for Narasiṃha protection)

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Narasiṃha
• Śiva (Śaṅkara)
• Śaunaka
• Mātṛgaṇas (Mātṛkās)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Nārasiṃha-stuti in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces a dedicated hymn to Lord Narasiṃha, presented as an authoritative transmission from Śiva, indicating its role as a protective and spiritually potent praise within Purāṇic practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it sets the narrative frame for a Narasiṃha hymn, which in Purāṇic context is often used for protection, fearlessness, and removal of obstacles—supportive themes for spiritual steadiness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use this as a cue to approach stotras through authentic lineage: recite or study the Narasiṃha-stuti with reverence, focusing on protection, courage, and dharmic resolve in daily life.