Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 177

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

Devanagari script

भयं मारीचशब्दान्ते भयं छायापदं ततः । स्कन्दापस्मारशब्दान्ते भयं चौरभयं ततः ॥ १७७ ॥

Transliteration

bhayaṃ mārīcaśabdānte bhayaṃ chāyāpadaṃ tataḥ | skandāpasmāraśabdānte bhayaṃ caurabhayaṃ tataḥ || 177 ||

Translation

「mārīca」という語の終わりには恐れのしるしがあり、次いで「chāyā」という語にも同じく恐れがある。「skanda–apasmāra」という句の終わりにも恐れがあり、その後に盗賊への恐れが起こる。

Word by Word

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मारीच-शब्द-अन्ते: at the end of the word ‘mārīca’
• मारीच-शब्द-अन्ते: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारीच (प्रातिपदिक) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘शब्दान्त’ = तत्पुरुष (शब्दस्य अन्तः); ‘मारीचशब्द’ = तत्पुरुष (मारीचस्य शब्दः)

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• छाया-पदम्: the word/term ‘chāyā’ (shadow) / shadow-place
• छाया-पदम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाया (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (छायायाः पदम्/स्थानम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तर (then/thereafter)

• स्कन्द-अपस्मार-शब्द-अन्ते: at the end of the word ‘skandāpasmāra’
• स्कन्द-अपस्मार-शब्द-अन्ते: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + अपस्मार (प्रातिपदिक) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; बहु-तत्पुरुष: ‘स्कन्दापस्मारशब्द’ (स्कन्द-अपस्मारस्य शब्दः) + ‘शब्दान्त’ (शब्दस्य अन्तः)

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चौर-भयम्: fear of thieves
• चौर-भयम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चौर (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (चौरस्य भयम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तर (then/thereafter)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on technical/omen-based readings within Vedanga-oriented material)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Skanda
• Apasmara

FAQs

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

It treats certain word-endings and specific terms in recitation as markers of inauspiciousness (bhaya), prompting the practitioner to adopt caution and perform śānti (pacificatory) measures so that ritual and study proceed without obstacles.

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing vigilance and remedial discipline in sacred practice, it supports steady sādhana; such steadiness protects devotional life from fear, distraction, and worldly disturbances like theft or affliction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śabda-based technical interpretation—reading significance from specific words and word-endings in pāṭha—aligning with Vedanga-style concerns for correct recitation and ritual efficacy, and the use of śānti-oriented diagnostics.