Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 121

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

Devanagari script

उत्तरे हलधृग्विष्णुः पद्मकिञ्जल्कमसन्निभः । आग्नेय्यामरविन्दाक्षो मुसली मधुसूदनः ॥ १२१ ॥

Transliteration

uttare haladhṛgviṣṇuḥ padmakiñjalkamasannibhaḥ | āgneyyāmaravindākṣo musalī madhusūdanaḥ || 121 ||

Translation

北方には、毘ṣṇुはハラドリク（犂を執る者）として観想され、蓮の花粉のような色を帯びる。東南（アーグネーヤ）には、蓮華眼のマドゥスーダナが、ムサリー（杵を執る者）として、マドゥを滅する御姿でおられる。

Word by Word

• uttare: in the north
• uttare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī, Ekavacana; used adjectivally (in the northern [direction/side])

• hala-dhṛk: plough-bearer
• hala-dhṛk: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hala (प्रातिपदिक) + dhṛk (प्रातिपदिक; from √dhṛ धृ)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; upapada-tatpuruṣa 'holding a plough'

• viṣṇuḥ: Vishnu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; proper name

• padma-kiñjalka-sama-sannibhaḥ: resembling the lotus-filament
• padma-kiñjalka-sama-sannibhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + kiñjalka (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक) + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; multi-member tatpuruṣa: 'similar in appearance to (sannibha) the lotus-filament (padma-kiñjalka)'

• āgneyyām: in the southeast
• āgneyyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āgneya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्री), Saptamī, Ekavacana; 'in the southeast (Agni-direction)'

• aravinda-akṣaḥ: lotus-eyed
• aravinda-akṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aravinda (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi 'whose eyes are lotuses'

• musalī: pestle/club-bearer
• musalī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: musalin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'having a pestle/club'

• madhu-sūdanaḥ: slayer of Madhu
• madhu-sūdanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक) + sūdana (प्रातिपदिक; from √sūd सूद्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa 'slayer of Madhu'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Madhusudana

FAQs

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

It teaches directional contemplation of Viṣṇu through specific names, weapons, and color-imagery, helping the practitioner stabilize dhyāna and align ritual space with sacred symbolism.

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

Bhakti is expressed as focused remembrance (smaraṇa) of Viṣṇu through his epithets—Haladhṛk, Aravindākṣa, Madhusūdana—so the devotee’s mind anchors in his qualities while worshiping.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical, ritual-application framework: using dik (direction) assignments and deity-forms for structured visualization in pūjā/nyāsa, a common method in applied sacred sciences connected with kalpa-style procedure.