Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तः स रुद्रेण नरसिहवपुर्हरिः / सहस्रहेवीर्जिह्वाग्रात्तदा वागीश्वरो हरिः

Transliteration

evamuktaḥ sa rudreṇa narasihavapurhariḥ / sahasrahevīrjihvāgrāttadā vāgīśvaro hariḥ

Translation

Thus addressed by Rudra, Hari—assuming the form of Narasiṁha—then, from the very tip of His tongue, manifested as Vāgīśvara, the Lord of Sacred Speech, endowed with a thousand hymnic cries.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• उक्तः: (having been) addressed/said
• उक्तः: Karta (of implied passive state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत्); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘having been said/addressed’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• रुद्रेण: by Rudra
• रुद्रेण: Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• नरसिंहवपुःहरिः: Hari with the form of Narasiṃha
• नरसिंहवपुःहरिः: Karta (Apposition to सः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (नरसिंहस्य वपुः यस्य सः/नरसिंहवपुः + हरिः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सहस्रहेवीः: the thousand-tongued (one)
• सहस्रहेवीः: Karta (Apposition/epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + हेवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (सहस्र-हेवीः = ‘having a thousand tongues/voices’ as an epithet); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• जिह्वाग्रात्: from the tip of the tongue
• जिह्वाग्रात्: Apādāna (Ablative/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (जिह्वायाः अग्रम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• वागीश्वरः: lord of speech
• वागीश्वरः: Karta (Apposition/epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (वाचः ईश्वरः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration describing Hari/Viṣṇu in Narasiṁha form after being addressed by Rudra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Stotra and divine nāma/vāk are not merely descriptive; they are śakti—Hari manifests as the Lord of Speech, implying mantra as a living presence.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the source of vāk (speech) and śabda-brahman; the Absolute appearing through name-and-form for protection and grace.

Application: Approach recitation as upāsanā: purity of articulation, reverence for speech, and steady remembrance of Narasiṁha as protective consciousness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.231.22-24 (phalaśruti and dhyāna/japa instructions); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa sections where nāma-smaraṇa and stotra are praised as protective supports (general)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Hari (Vishnu)
• Narasiṁha
• Vāgīśvara

FAQs

What is the significance of Vāgīśvara (Lord of Speech) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse highlights that divine speech (vāk)—the power behind mantra, praise, and revelation—arises from Hari Himself; Vāgīśvara here indicates mastery over sacred utterance and spiritual instruction.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s spiritual teaching style?

By portraying Hari as the source of authoritative speech after Rudra’s address, it frames ensuing teachings as divinely sanctioned instruction rather than ordinary narration.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat speech as a sacred discipline: speak truthfully, avoid harmful words, and use prayer/mantra and study to align one’s speech with dharma.