Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 154

The Exposition of Nṛsiṁha Worship-Mantras, Nyāsa, Mudrās, Yantras, Kavaca, and Nṛsiṁha Gāyatrī

Devanagari script

रूपाय तार स्वं बीजं वामनान्ते च रूपतः । पापध्रुवत्रयं बीजं रामाय निगमादितः ॥ १५४ ॥

Transliteration

rūpāya tāra svaṃ bījaṃ vāmanānte ca rūpataḥ | pāpadhruvatrayaṃ bījaṃ rāmāya nigamāditaḥ || 154 ||

Translation

For the deity “Rūpa,” the seed-syllable is Tārā (oṃ), and likewise for “Rūpa” at the conclusion of the Vāmana section. For “Rāma,” the seed-syllable is the triad “pāpa–dhruva,” as taught from the very beginning in the Nigamas (the Vedas).

Word by Word

• रूपाय: to (that) form
• रूपाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• तार: ‘tāra’
• तार: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/सम्बोधन (Vocative) एकवचन (पाठानुसार)

• स्वम्: one’s own
• स्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• बीजम्: seed-syllable
• बीजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वामनान्ते: at the end of (the word) ‘vāmana’
• वामनान्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामनान्त (प्रातिपदिक; वामन + अन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वामनस्य अन्तः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• रूपतः: from/according to the form
• रूपतः: Hetu/Apadana (अपादान/कारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• पापध्रुवत्रयम्: the triad of ‘pāpa-dhruva’ (three fixed syllables)
• पापध्रुवत्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापध्रुव + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक; पाप + ध्रुव + त्रय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः (त्रयम् पापध्रुवाणाम्)

• बीजम्: seed-syllable
• बीजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रामाय: to Rāma
• रामाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• निगमादितः: from the Nigamas (Vedas), etc.
• निगमादितः: Apadana (अपादान/स्रोत)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निगम + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) ‘from the Nigamas/starting with the Nigamas’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Rūpa (mantra/deity-name)
• Rāma
• Vāmana
• Nigama (Vedas)
• Tārā (Oṃ)

FAQs

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

It codifies which bīja (seed-syllable) empowers specific divine names/forms, grounding mantra practice in Nigamic (Vedic) authority rather than personal invention.

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

Bhakti here is practiced through mantra-vidhi: devotion becomes disciplined remembrance and worship of the Lord’s forms (Rāma/Vāmana) using correctly transmitted seed-syllables.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-śāstra within the Vedāṅga-oriented material: technical rules for bīja assignment and mantra construction/placement (e.g., at the ‘end’ of a mantra-section), reflecting disciplined recitation and ritual application.