Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 159

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

Devanagari script

अनेकचन्द्र प्रतिमो लक्ष्मीमुखकृतेक्षणः । दशावतारैः सहितस्तनोतु नृहरिः सुखम् ॥ १५९ ॥

Transliteration

anekacandra pratimo lakṣmīmukhakṛtekṣaṇaḥ | daśāvatāraiḥ sahitastanotu nṛhariḥ sukham || 159 ||

Translation

അനേകം ചന്ദ്രന്മാരെപ്പോലെ ദീപ്തനായ, ലക്ഷ്മീദേവിയുടെ മുഖത്തിൽ സ്നേഹദൃഷ്ടി നിർത്തുന്ന, ദശാവതാരങ്ങളോടുകൂടിയ നൃഹരി ഞങ്ങൾക്ക് സുഖം പകരട്ടെ॥

Word by Word

• anekacandraḥ: (like) many moons
• anekacandraḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aneka-candra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: अनेकः चन्द्रः (कर्मधारय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; used adjectivally

• pratimaḥ: resembling
• pratimaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘similar/resembling’

• lakṣmīmukhakṛtekṣaṇaḥ: whose gaze is fixed on Lakṣmī’s face
• lakṣmīmukhakṛtekṣaṇaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lakṣmī-mukha-kṛta-īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: लक्ष्मीमुखे कृतम् ईक्षणं यस्य (बहुव्रीहि), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; epithet of nṛhariḥ

• daśāvatāraiḥ: with the ten incarnations
• daśāvatāraiḥ: Sahakāraka (सह/सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa-avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: दश + अवतार (द्विगु), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• sahitaḥ: accompanied
• sahitaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘accompanied/associated’

• tanotu: may (he) bestow/extend
• tanotu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tan (तन् धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘may he extend/bestow’

• nṛhariḥ: Nṛhari
• nṛhariḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛhari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sukham: happiness
• sukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (as a benedictory/colophonic verse within the discourse tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Nṛhari (Narasimha)
• Lakṣmī
• Daśāvatāra (ten avatāras of Viṣṇu)
• Viṣṇu (Hari)

FAQs

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

It functions as a maṅgala (auspicious benediction), invoking Nṛhari—radiant and protective—together with the Daśāvatāras, to grant sukha (well-being) through remembrance of Viṣṇu’s saving manifestations.

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

Bhakti is expressed through praise and personal contemplation: the verse visualizes the Lord’s beauty (moon-like radiance) and intimacy with Lakṣmī, encouraging affectionate remembrance (smaraṇa) and surrender to Hari as the giver of lasting happiness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Direct Vedāṅga technique is not taught in this single śloka; rather, it serves as an invocatory framing commonly used in śāstric/technical sections—establishing auspiciousness before instruction, a standard practice in traditional textual transmission.