Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 197

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

Devanagari script

मूर्तेस्त्रमव्ययोबीजं विश्वमूर्तेस्त्रिमव्ययः । मायाविश्वात्मने षट् च तारः सौचं तुरात्मने ॥ १९७ ॥

Transliteration

mūrtestramavyayobījaṃ viśvamūrtestrimavyayaḥ | māyāviśvātmane ṣaṭ ca tāraḥ saucaṃ turātmane || 197 ||

Translation

For the Deity in embodied form (mūrti), the imperishable seed-syllable is “tram”; for the Lord of the Universal Form (Viśva-mūrti), the imperishable seed is “trim.” For Him who, through Māyā, is the Self of the universe, there are six syllables. The “tāra” (Oṃ) is for the inner Self; and “sauca” (purity) is for the fourth, transcendent Self.

Word by Word

• मूर्तेः: of the form
• मूर्तेः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी एकवचन

• अस्त्रम्: astra (weapon-mantra)
• अस्त्रम्: विषय/कर्म (Topic/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; here as topic/object in mantra-description

• अव्ययः: indeclinable
• अव्ययः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘indeclinable/unchanging’

• बीजम्: seed (bīja)
• बीजम्: विषय/कर्म (Topic/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘seed-syllable’

• विश्व-मूर्तेः: of the universal form
• विश्व-मूर्तेः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी एकवचन

• त्रिम्: three
• त्रिम्: विशेषण (Numeral qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (पाठदोषसम्भावना) ‘त्रिम्’ = द्वितीया एकवचन; intended ‘त्रि/त्रयम्’ (three) in mantra-count sense

• अव्ययः: indeclinable
• अव्ययः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा एकवचन

• माया-विश्व-आत्मने: to the māyā-universe-self
• माया-विश्व-आत्मने: सम्प्रदान (Sampradana/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; ‘to/for the self of māyā and universe’

• षट्: ṣaṭ (six / mantric element)
• षट्: मन्त्राङ्ग (Mantra element)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: षट् (संख्या/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: संख्यानिपात (numeral used as mantra-element)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• तारः: tāra
• तारः: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा एकवचन

• सौचम्: purity
• सौचम्: विषय/कर्म (Topic/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• तुर-आत्मने: to the turātman
• तुर-आत्मने: सम्प्रदान (Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुर (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी एकवचन; ‘to/for the swift self’ (reading uncertain)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Sage Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Om (Tāra)
• Māyā
• Ātman
• Viśvarūpa (Universal Form)

FAQs

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

It maps specific seed-syllables and mantra-units to different theological levels—embodied form, cosmic form, Māyā-conditioned universality, inner Self, and the transcendent ‘fourth’ (turīya)—showing a graded approach from ritual sound to non-dual realization.

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

By prescribing bīja-syllables and Oṃ (tāra) for contemplation, it frames devotion as disciplined japa and inner recollection of the Lord—from worship of form (mūrti) to meditation on the universal Lord and finally the indwelling Self.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-vidyā and precise syllabic usage—core to Śikṣā (phonetics) and allied ritual applications—along with the insistence on śauca (purity) as a prerequisite for effective japa/nyāsa practice.