Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

Nārada’s Hymn to Viṣṇu

Nāradasya Viṣṇu-stavaḥ

Devanagari script

लेभेऽवतीर्योग्रनृसिंहरूपी यो दैत्यवक्षः कठिनं शिलावत् । विदार्य संरक्षितवान् स्वभक्तं प्रह्लादमीशं तमजं नमामि ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

lebhe'vatīryogranṛsiṃharūpī yo daityavakṣaḥ kaṭhinaṃ śilāvat | vidārya saṃrakṣitavān svabhaktaṃ prahlādamīśaṃ tamajaṃ namāmi || 30 ||

Translation

I bow to the Unborn Lord who, descending in the fierce form of Narasiṁha, tore open the demon’s chest—hard as stone—and protected His own devotee Prahlāda.

Word by Word

• lebhe: obtained/assumed
• lebhe: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; Ātmanepada

• avatīrya: having descended
• avatīrya: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ava-tṝ (धातु) + lyap (कृत्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), avyaya; 'having descended'

• ugra-nṛsiṃha-rūpī: having the form of fierce Narasiṃha
• ugra-nṛsiṃha-rūpī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ugra (प्रातिपदिक) + nṛsiṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: उग्रः नृसिंहः तस्य रूपी

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• daitya-vakṣaḥ: the demon’s chest
• daitya-vakṣaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक) + vakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: दैत्यस्य वक्षः (demon’s chest)

• kaṭhinam: hard
• kaṭhinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṭhina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; adjective qualifying vakṣaḥ

• śilāvat: like a rock
• śilāvat: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śilā (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (उपमावाचक अव्यय) meaning 'like/as'

• vidārya: having torn
• vidārya: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-dṛ (धातु) + lyap (कृत्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), avyaya; 'having torn asunder'

• saṃrakṣitavān: protected
• saṃrakṣitavān: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-rakṣ (धातु) + kta-vat (कृत्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; past active participle (क्तवत्) used as finite-like predicate

• sva-bhaktam: his devotee
• sva-bhaktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: स्वस्य भक्तः (his devotee)

• prahlādam: Prahlāda
• prahlādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahlāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; proper noun

• īśam: the lord
• īśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; apposition to prahlādam (as lord/master)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ajam: unborn
• ajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; adjective

• namāmi: I bow to
• namāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person, Singular; Parasmaipada

Speaker

Narada (stotra-style narration within the Purva Bhaga context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Narasimha
• Prahlada

FAQs

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

It affirms the Purāṇic principle that Bhagavān personally intervenes to protect His devotee—here, by assuming Narasiṁha form and destroying the oppressor while safeguarding Prahlāda.

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

Bhakti is shown as steadfast loyalty to the Lord even under persecution; the verse highlights that the Lord recognizes “svabhakta” and grants rakṣa (protection) when devotion is unwavering.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga procedure is taught in this verse; its practical takeaway is stotra-recitation and remembrance (smaraṇa) of the Lord’s avatāra as a devotional discipline supporting faith and courage.