Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

इति षोडशदोर्दण्डमण्डितं नृहरिं विभुम् । ध्यायेन्नारद नीलाभमुग्रकर्मण्यनन्यधीः ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

iti ṣoḍaśadordaṇḍamaṇḍitaṃ nṛhariṃ vibhum | dhyāyennārada nīlābhamugrakarmaṇyananyadhīḥ || 61 ||

Translation

இவ்வாறு, நாரதா! பதினாறு கரங்களால் அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்ட, நீலநிற ஒளியுடைய, உக்கிரச் செயல்களில் வல்ல, எங்கும் நிறைந்த ந்ருஹரியை ஒருமுகச் சிந்தையுடன் தியானிக்க வேண்டும்।

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसंहार/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative/thus)

• षोडश-दोर्-दण्ड-मण्डितम्: adorned with sixteen arms
• षोडश-दोर्-दण्ड-मण्डितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + दोर्/दोरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डित (कृदन्त, √मण्ड् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘षोडशभिः दोर्दण्डैः मण्डितम्’ (adorned with sixteen arms)

• नृहरिम्: Nṛhari (Man-Lion Lord)
• नृहरिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृहरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ध्येय-वस्तु

• विभुम्: the all-pervading, mighty one
• विभुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate
• ध्यायेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष?—अत्र मध्यमपुरुष-एकवचनार्थे विधिवचनम् (should meditate); परस्मैपदम्, एकवचन

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधनम्

• नील-आभम्: blue-hued
• नील-आभम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘नीलः आभः यस्य’ (having blue radiance/appearance)

• उग्र-कर्मणि: in fierce action / of fierce deeds
• उग्र-कर्मणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग? कर्मन्-शब्दः नपुंसकलिङ्ग; अत्र सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘उग्रे कर्मणि’ (in fierce act/with fierce deeds)

• अनन्य-धीः: (one) with single-pointed mind
• अनन्य-धीः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम्—‘अनन्या धीः यस्य’ (one whose mind is undistracted/single-pointed)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Nṛhari (Nṛsiṃha/Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It prescribes focused dhyāna on Nṛhari (Nṛsiṃha) as a direct spiritual discipline—fixing the mind on the Lord’s form, power, and protective ferocity to purify consciousness and remove fear and obstacles.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as ananya-dhī—exclusive, unwavering attention to the Lord—where devotion matures into steady meditation on Vishnu’s manifested form (saguṇa-upāsanā).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the applied discipline of dhyāna used in mantra-upāsanā and ritual visualization—an operational technique supporting correct recitation and worship rather than a grammatical or astrological rule.