Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 146

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

Devanagari script

वज्राधिकनखस्पर्श दिव्यसिंह नमोऽस्तु ते । मुनिर्ब्रह्मा समाख्यातोऽनुष्टुप्छन्दः समीरितः ॥ १४६ ॥

Transliteration

vajrādhikanakhasparśa divyasiṃha namo'stu te | munirbrahmā samākhyāto'nuṣṭupchandaḥ samīritaḥ || 146 ||

Translation

Ô Lion divin, dont le contact des ongles est plus puissant que le vajra : hommage à Toi. Pour ce mantra/verset, le voyant (ṛṣi) est déclaré être Brahmā, et le mètre est dit Anuṣṭubh.

Word by Word

• वज्र-अधिक-नख-स्पर्श: O (you) whose nail-touch surpasses a thunderbolt
• वज्र-अधिक-नख-स्पर्श: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक) + नख (प्रातिपदिक) + स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समासः—वज्रात् अधिकः नखस्पर्शः यस्य (addressing: O one whose nail-touch is stronger than a thunderbolt)

• दिव्य-सिंह: O divine lion
• दिव्य-सिंह: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—दिव्यः सिंहः (divine lion)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन/प्रयोग (Salutation expression/नमस्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable interjection/particle); नमः-प्रयोगः (salutation formula)

• अस्तु: may it be
• अस्तु: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: to you / for you
• ते: सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध (Recipient/Relation—‘to you/for you’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6 विभक्ति, Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• समाख्यातः: is declared / is called
• समाख्यातः: क्रिया-विशेष्य (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√ख्या (धातु) → समाख्यात (क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः (passive sense)

• अनुष्टुप्-छन्दः: the Anuṣṭubh metre
• अनुष्टुप्-छन्दः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुष्टुप् (प्रातिपदिक) + छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—अनुष्टुप् नाम छन्दः

• समीरितः: is recited / is uttered
• समीरितः: क्रिया-विशेष्य (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-ईर्/√ईर् (धातु) → समीरित (क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मणि (has been uttered/recited)

Speaker

Narada (teaching technical mantra-details in Vedanga context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Divya-Simha (Narasimha epithet)
• Brahma
• Anustubh (Chandas)

FAQs

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

It combines devotion with mantra-vidhi: a reverential salutation to the Divine Lion (Narasimha-like form) and the formal identification of mantra components—ṛṣi (Brahmā) and chandas (Anuṣṭubh)—showing that worship is strengthened by correct Vedic technical knowledge.

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

Bhakti appears as direct surrender—“namo’stu te”—toward the fierce yet divine protector, emphasizing heartfelt praise while remaining aligned with proper mantra structure.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Chandas and mantra-lakṣaṇa: the verse explicitly states the metre (Anuṣṭubh) and names the seer (Brahmā), which are key practical details used when applying or reciting mantras correctly in Narada Purana rituals.