Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

रक्ताक्षः पिगलाक्षश्चाञ्जनो दीप्तरुचिस्तथा । सुघोरकश्च सुहनुर्विश्वको राक्षसान्तकः ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

raktākṣaḥ pigalākṣaścāñjano dīptarucistathā | sughorakaśca suhanurviśvako rākṣasāntakaḥ || 9 ||

Translation

അവൻ രക്താക്ഷൻ, പിംഗലാക്ഷൻ, അഞ്ജനനിറമുള്ളവൻ, ദീപ്തതേജസ്സോടെ പ്രകാശിക്കുന്നവൻ. അവൻ സുഘോരൻ, സുഹനു (ദൃഢഹനു), വിശ്വവ്യാപി, രാക്ഷസാന്തകൻ.

Word by Word

• रक्ताक्षः: red-eyed
• रक्ताक्षः: Karta (कर्ता) [epithet list]
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (रक्तम् अक्षि यस्य/रक्तम् अक्षम्)

• पिगलाक्षः: tawny/brown-eyed
• पिगलाक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिगल + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (पिगलम् अक्षि)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अञ्जनः: Anjana (collyrium-dark/blackish one; epithet)
• अञ्जनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि/नाम

• दीप्तरुचिः: of shining splendor
• दीप्तरुचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्त + रुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (दीप्ता रुचिः यस्य)

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: likewise/also)

• सुघोरकः: very terrible
• सुघोरकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + घोरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सु-घोरकः = अतिघोरः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुहनुः: having a fine jaw
• सुहनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + हनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सु-हनुः = शोभना हनुः यस्य)

• विश्वकः: Viśvaka (name/epithet)
• विश्वकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि/नाम

• राक्षसान्तकः: destroyer of rākṣasas
• राक्षसान्तकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस + अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राक्षसानाम् अन्तकः = नाशकः)

Speaker

Narada (in a recitative/teaching mode within a name-list/stotra-style passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It functions as a nāma-list (epithet sequence) that contemplates the Lord’s protective and all-pervading power—his radiant presence dispels inner and outer ‘rākṣasa’ qualities such as cruelty, delusion, and hostility.

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

By concentrating on concrete divine attributes (radiance, universality, protective might), the devotee practices nāma-smaraṇa—devotional remembrance—where repeated recitation stabilizes faith and turns the mind toward the Lord as refuge.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Vyākaraṇa/Nirukta-style understanding of names: the verse teaches how epithets (nāman) encode attributes (guṇa/karma) and are used in stotra-recitation as a disciplined devotional practice.