Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

नृसिंहसान्निध्यकरो न्यासो दशविधो यथा । कराङ्घ्र्यष्टाद्यङ्गुलीषु पृथगाद्यन्तपर्वणोः ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

nṛsiṃhasānnidhyakaro nyāso daśavidho yathā | karāṅghryaṣṭādyaṅgulīṣu pṛthagādyantaparvaṇoḥ || 20 ||

Translation

ശ്രീ നൃസിംഹന്റെ സാന്നിധ്യം വരുത്തുന്ന ന്യാസം ശാസ്ത്രോക്തമായി പത്തു വിധം. കൈയും കാലും ഉള്ള എട്ട് വിരലുകളുടെ ആദ്യവും അവസാനവും സന്ധികളിൽ വേർതിരിച്ച് വിന്യസിക്കണം॥ ૨૦ ॥

Word by Word

• नृसिंह-सान्निध्य-करः: (that) which produces the presence of Narasiṃha
• नृसिंह-सान्निध्य-करः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृसिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + सान्निध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सान्निध्यं करोतीति)

• न्यासः: nyāsa (ritual placement)
• न्यासः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दश-विधः: tenfold
• दश-विधः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संख्यापूर्वक-तत्पुरुषः

• यथा: as (follows)
• यथा: सम्बन्ध/प्रकार (Relation/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (adverb: 'as, in the manner')

• कर-अङ्घ्रि-अष्ट-आद्य-अङ्गुलीषु: on the eight fingers etc. of hands and feet
• कर-अङ्घ्रि-अष्ट-आद्य-अङ्गुलीषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; समासः (करयोः अङ्घ्र्योः च अष्टाद्याः अङ्गुल्यः)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'separately')

• आदि-अन्त-पर्वणोः: of the first and last joints
• आदि-अन्त-पर्वणोः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुषः (आद्यन्तयोः पर्वणी)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the technical procedure of nyāsa)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Nṛsiṁha
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

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

It teaches that nyāsa is not merely a physical gesture but a disciplined mantra-installation meant to invoke the living presence (sānnidhya) of Lord Nṛsiṁha in the practitioner’s body and awareness.

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

By prescribing a precise devotional ritual (nyāsa) directed to Nṛsiṁha, it frames bhakti as embodied remembrance—bringing the Lord near through reverent, rule-based mantra practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual-technical procedure—systematic nyāsa placement on specific body points (fingers and joints), reflecting the Narada Purana’s Book 1.3 focus on applied sacred sciences and correct ritual method.