Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

एषा मुद्रा नारसिंही प्रधानेति प्रकीर्तिता । वामस्याङ्गुष्ठतो बद्ध्वा कनिष्ठामन्गुलीत्रयम् ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

eṣā mudrā nārasiṃhī pradhāneti prakīrtitā | vāmasyāṅguṣṭhato baddhvā kaniṣṭhāmangulītrayam || 38 ||

Translation

This hand-gesture is proclaimed as the Nārasimhī Mudrā, the foremost among mudrās. It is formed by binding three fingers of the left hand, from the thumb up to the little finger.

Word by Word

• eṣā: this
• eṣā: Karta (कर्ता) (copular sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• mudrā: mudrā/gesture
• mudrā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• nārasiṃhī: pertaining to Narasiṃha
• nārasiṃhī: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nārasiṃhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; adjective qualifying mudrā

• pradhānā: principal/primary
• pradhānā: Pradhāna-predicative (विशेष्य-विशेषण भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective (implied ‘is’)

• iti: thus/so called
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (iti)

• prakīrtitā: is proclaimed
• prakīrtitā: Kriyā (क्रिया) (passive predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√kīrt (धातु)
• Form: Bhūta-kṛdanta (kta/PPP), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; passive participle agreeing with mudrā

• vāmasya: of the left (hand)
• vāmasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; ‘of the left (hand)’ (elliptic)

• aṅguṣṭhataḥ: with/from the thumb
• aṅguṣṭhataḥ: Karaṇa/Apādāna-nirdeśa (करण/अपादान-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aṅguṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tasil-anta avyaya (ablatival adverb) from aṅguṣṭha; ‘from/with the thumb’

• baddhvā: having bound
• baddhvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bandh (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (ktvā), avyaya-kṛdanta; ‘having bound/fastened’

• kaniṣṭhā: the little finger
• kaniṣṭhā: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaniṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• aṅgulī-trayam: the set of three fingers
• aṅgulī-trayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgulī (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; dvigu-samāsa (three fingers)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Nṛsiṁha
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It identifies the Nārasimhī Mudrā as a principal ritual ‘seal’, linking bodily gesture with the protective and transformative power of Nṛsiṁha in worship.

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

By prescribing a specific mudrā connected to Nṛsiṁha, it shows bhakti expressed not only through emotion and praise but also through disciplined ritual action that focuses the mind on Vishnu’s form.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-technical procedure (prayoga) is emphasized—how to physically form a mudrā as part of mantra-japa and pūjā, reflecting applied liturgical knowledge within the Narada Purana’s technical sections.