Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

देवेश्वरस्यापि नृसिंहमूर्तेः पूजां विधातुं त्रिपुरान्तकारी / प्रसाद्य तं देववरं स लब्ध्वा अव्याज्जगन्मातृगणेभ्य एव च

Transliteration

deveśvarasyāpi nṛsiṃhamūrteḥ pūjāṃ vidhātuṃ tripurāntakārī / prasādya taṃ devavaraṃ sa labdhvā avyājjaganmātṛgaṇebhya eva ca

Translation

Tripurāntaka (Śiva), wishing to establish the worship even of the Lord of the gods in His Narasiṁha form, pleased that best of Devas; and, having obtained His grace, he also received it directly and without pretext from the host of the Mothers of the universe.

Word by Word

• देवेश्वरस्य: of the Lord of the gods
• देवेश्वरस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानाम् ईश्वरः)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थे ‘also/even’

• नृसिंहमूर्तेः: of the Narasiṃha form
• नृसिंहमूर्तेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृसिंह + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नृसिंहस्य मूर्तिः)

• पूजाम्: worship
• पूजाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विधातुम्: to perform
• विधातुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), परस्मैपदी; अर्थः—‘कर्तुम्/to do, to perform’

• त्रिपुरान्तकारी: Tripurāntaka (destroyer of Tripura)
• त्रिपुरान्तकारी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिपुर + अन्त + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थे ‘त्रिपुरस्य अन्तं करोति’ (epithet)

• प्रसाद्य: having propitiated
• प्रसाद्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + सद् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), अर्थः—‘प्रसाद्य/propitiating, pleasing’

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• देववरम्: the best of gods
• देववरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (वरः देवः)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), परस्मैपदी; अर्थः—‘प्राप्य/having obtained’

• अव्याजात्: without pretext; sincerely
• अव्याजात्: Apadana (Ablative source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्याज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अव्याज-शब्दः), पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; अर्थः—‘अव्याजात्/without pretext, without deceit’

• जगन्मातृगणेभ्यः: to the hosts of the Mothers of the world
• जगन्मातृगणेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + मातृ + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जगतः मातॄणां गणः)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थ ‘indeed/just’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra, typical Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Legitimacy of worship arises from divine grace (prasāda) and proper institution (vidhi), even across deity-forms; Narasiṁha-bhakti is sanctioned through Śiva’s devotion and the Mothers’ assent.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-prasāda as the enabling cause of sādhana; unity of the Supreme approached through diverse forms (saguṇa-upāsanā).

Application: Undertake worship with humility and proper procedure; seek blessings of the deity and protective divine forces (Mothers/guardians) before establishing new vows, temples, or daily pūjā.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.232 (Kula-amṛta stotra frame begins immediately after)

Characters & Entities

• Narasimha
• Tripurantaka (Shiva)
• Deveshvara (Lord of the Devas)
• Jaganmātṛgaṇa (Matrikas/Divine Mothers)

FAQs

What is the importance of Narasimha worship in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Narasiṁha-pūjā as a divinely sanctioned practice: even Tripurāntaka (Śiva) seeks to establish it by first propitiating Narasiṁha and receiving grace, indicating protective and authoritative religious value.

How does this verse reflect the dialogue and theology of the Garuda Purana?

In the Vishnu-to-Garuda narrative style, the verse presents Narasiṁha as “Deveśvara” (supreme among the gods) while showing Śiva as a devotee who approaches through prasāda, highlighting devotional hierarchy without sectarian hostility.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach worship with sincerity and proper method (vidhātuṃ), seeking divine grace (prasāda) rather than display; the verse also supports respectful integration of traditions when performing protective Narasiṁha devotion.