Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 162

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

Devanagari script

सहस्रार्णं महामन्त्रं वक्ष्ये तन्त्रेषु गोपितम् । तारो माया रमा कामो बीजं क्रोधपदं ततः ॥ १६२ ॥

Transliteration

sahasrārṇaṃ mahāmantraṃ vakṣye tantreṣu gopitam | tāro māyā ramā kāmo bījaṃ krodhapadaṃ tataḥ || 162 ||

Translation

ତନ୍ତ୍ରମାନେ ଗୋପିତ ଥିବା ସହସ୍ରାକ୍ଷର ମହାମନ୍ତ୍ରକୁ ମୁଁ କହୁଛି। ତାହାର ବୀଜ—ତାର, ମାୟା, ରମା, କାମ; ଏବଂ ପରେ କ୍ରୋଧପଦ।

Word by Word

• sahasra-arṇam: having a thousand syllables/letters
• sahasra-arṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative Singular Neuter (qualifying ‘mantram’)

• mahā-mantram: the great mantra
• mahā-mantram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative Singular Masculine

• vakṣye: I shall declare
• vakṣye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; 1st person singular future (parasmaipada)

• tantreṣu: in the tantras
• tantreṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; Locative Plural Neuter

• gopitam: kept secret/hidden
• gopitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gup (गुप् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), भूतकर्मणि; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative Singular Neuter (qualifying ‘mantram’)

• tāraḥ: ‘tāra’ (the syllable/term)
• tāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative Singular Masculine

• māyā: ‘māyā’
• māyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative Singular Feminine

• ramā: ‘ramā’ (Lakṣmī)
• ramā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ramā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative Singular Feminine

• kāmaḥ: ‘kāma’
• kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative Singular Masculine

• bījam: seed-syllable (bīja)
• bījam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative Singular Neuter

• krodha-padam: the ‘krodha’ word/term
• krodha-padam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Nominative/Accusative Singular Neuter (here as nominative item in list)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त; adverb ‘then/thereafter’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Tāra
• Māyā
• Ramā (Lakṣmī)
• Kāma
• Krodha

FAQs

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

It frames mantra-vidyā as a guarded, potent discipline: a “mahāmantra” is transmitted through an authorized lineage and is built from specific bīja-elements, indicating controlled spiritual power rather than casual recitation.

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

While the verse is technical, it implies that devotion is supported by disciplined practice—sacred sound (mantra) is treated as a precise vehicle for focusing the mind on divinity (e.g., Ramā/Lakṣmī as a divine principle) under proper guidance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-construction using bīja terminology and coded epithets—an applied, technical side of sacred phonetics and ritual practice aligned with Vedāṅga-style precision (especially śikṣā/phonetics and kalpa/ritual method).