Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 114

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

Devanagari script

अथवा केशवाद्यैस्तु रक्षां कुर्यात्प्रयत्नतः । केशवः पातु पादौ मे जङ्घे नारायणोऽवतु ॥ ११४ ॥

Transliteration

athavā keśavādyaistu rakṣāṃ kuryātprayatnataḥ | keśavaḥ pātu pādau me jaṅghe nārāyaṇo'vatu || 114 ||

Translation

หรือพึงตั้งใจประกอบการคุ้มครองด้วยพระนามเริ่มด้วย ‘เกศวะ’ คือ ขอพระเกศวะทรงปกป้องเท้าทั้งสองของข้าพเจ้า และขอพระนารายณ์ทรงคุ้มครองน่องของข้าพเจ้า

Word by Word

• अथवा: or
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• केशवाद्यैः: by Keśava and the others (names)
• केशवाद्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘Keśava and others’ (ādi-समाहार)

• तु: indeed/then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अन्वय-अव्यय (particle)

• रक्षाम्: protection
• रक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• प्रयत्नतः: with effort
• प्रयत्नतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverbial ablative): ‘with effort’

• केशवः: Keśava
• केशवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive use), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• पादौ: (my) two feet
• पादौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘my’

• जङ्घे: (my) legs/shanks
• जङ्घे: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन (वेद/काव्ये द्विवचन-प्रयोगः); ‘shanks/legs’

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर-अयन/नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अवतु: may (he) protect
• अवतु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√अव्/√अव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive use), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a mantra/kavacha style within the dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Keshava
• Narayana

FAQs

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

It teaches a limb-by-limb protective practice (rakṣā/kavacha) where Vishnu’s names are invoked as living guardians, turning remembrance (nāma) into spiritual protection and steadiness of mind.

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

Bhakti is expressed as attentive nāma-smaraṇa: by calling Keśava and Nārāyaṇa with effort and faith, the devotee consecrates the body and life to Vishnu’s shelter.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual technique akin to nyāsa/kavacha usage—systematically assigning divine names to body parts for protection—showing a practical, procedure-based side of mantra practice.