Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

अधोमुखाभिः शिष्टाभिः शेषाभिर्नृहरौ ततः । हस्तावधोमुखौ कृत्वा नाभिदेशे प्रसार्य च ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

adhomukhābhiḥ śiṣṭābhiḥ śeṣābhirnṛharau tataḥ | hastāvadhomukhau kṛtvā nābhideśe prasārya ca || 40 ||

Translation

Ensuite, les doigts restants étant disposés selon la règle et tournés vers le bas, en présence de Nṛhari, que l’on tienne les deux mains face au sol et qu’on les étende vers la région du nombril.

Word by Word

• अधोमुखाभिः: with downward-facing (ones)
• अधोमुखाभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधोमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) बहुवचन; विशेषण (fem., Instr. pl.)

• शिष्टाभिः: with the remaining/left (fingers)
• शिष्टाभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; विशेषण (fem., Instr. pl.)

• शेषाभिः: with the other remaining (ones)
• शेषाभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; विशेषण (fem., Instr. pl.)

• नृहरौ: in/near Nṛhari (Narasimha)
• नृहरौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृहरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (loc. sg.); समासः नृ + हरि (man-lion)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध/क्रम (Discourse/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक (indecl., then/thereafter)

• हस्तौ: the two hands
• हस्तौ: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (nom. du.)

• अधोमुखौ: downward-facing
• अधोमुखौ: विशेषण-सम्बन्ध (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधोमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन; विशेषण (masc., nom. du.)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Pūrvakriyā/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having done/made’

• नाभिदेशे: at the navel region
• नाभिदेशे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभिदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (loc. sg.); नाभेः देशः (region of the navel)

• प्रसार्य: having extended
• प्रसार्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Pūrvakriyā/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रसृ (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having stretched/extended’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Nṛhari (Narasimha)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, correct bodily procedure (hand orientation and placement) as a support for focused devotion to Nṛhari, aligning the worshipper’s attention with the deity through precise ritual action.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through careful, reverent performance—turning the hands downward and extending them toward the navel region as instructed—showing that devotion includes attentive adherence to sacred method while invoking Nṛhari.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical ritual know-how—procedural instruction akin to Kalpa/Prayoga traditions—detailing hand-positioning (mudrā/nyāsa-like action) used in formal worship.