Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

इन्द्र गोपाभनीलाभं चन्द्रा भं स्वर्णसन्निभम् । पूर्वादि चोत्तरं यावदूर्ध्वास्यं सर्ववर्णकम् ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

indra gopābhanīlābhaṃ candrā bhaṃ svarṇasannibham | pūrvādi cottaraṃ yāvadūrdhvāsyaṃ sarvavarṇakam || 56 ||

Translation

Its hue is like the indragopa (a deep bluish-red insect), radiant like the moon and resembling gold; from the eastern direction onward up to the northern quarter, it is upward-facing and displays all colors.

Word by Word

• indra-gopa-ābha-nīla-ābham: blue-lustrous like an indragopa insect
• indra-gopa-ābha-nīla-ābham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: indra-gopa (प्रातिपदिक) + ābha (प्रातिपदिक) + nīla (प्रातिपदिक) + ābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; samāsa (descriptive): indragopa-ābha (like indragopa insect) + nīla-ābha (blue-lustre) → ‘having blue lustre like indragopa’

• candra-ābham: moon-like (radiant)
• candra-ābham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + ābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; samāsa: candra-ābha ‘moon-like (in lustre)’

• svarṇa-sannibham: gold-like
• svarṇa-sannibham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svarṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; samāsa: svarṇa-sannibha ‘resembling gold’

• pūrva-ādi: from the east onward
• pūrva-ādi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) adverbial: ‘beginning from the east’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• uttaram: the north (direction)
• uttaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana (directional noun)

• yāvat: up to
• yāvat: Avadhi (अवधि/limit)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Parimāṇa-avyaya (परिमाण-अव्यय) ‘up to/as far as’

• ūrdhva-āsyam: with face upward
• ūrdhva-āsyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक) + āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: ūrdhva-āsya ‘having face/mouth upward’

• sarva-varṇakam: variegated; of all colors
• sarva-varṇakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; samāsa: sarva-varṇaka ‘of all colors/variegated’

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; technical exposition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Indragopa
• Chandra

FAQs

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

The verse encodes auspicious qualities through traditional markers—radiance (moon-like), purity/wealth (gold-like), and completeness (all colors)—often used in Purāṇic-vedāṅga style descriptions to indicate sacred or favorable characteristics.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports devotional practice indirectly by providing the technical language used to recognize auspicious signs and proper orientations, which help structure ritual settings that accompany Vishnu-bhakti and other devotional observances.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Directional specification (east through north) and observable attributes (color, radiance) reflect a vedāṅga-oriented, especially jyotiṣa/ritual-technical mode of description used for determining suitability, auspiciousness, and orientation in applied practice.