Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 125

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

Devanagari script

इन्द्र गोपप्रभः पायात्पाशहस्तोऽपराजितः । स बाह्याभ्यन्तरे देहमव्याद्दामोदरो हरिः ॥ १२५ ॥

Transliteration

indra gopaprabhaḥ pāyātpāśahasto'parājitaḥ | sa bāhyābhyantare dehamavyāddāmodaro hariḥ || 125 ||

Translation

ขอพระศรีหริผู้ไม่อาจพิชิต ผู้รุ่งเรืองดุจอินทรโคปะ และทรงถือบาศในพระหัตถ์ โปรดคุ้มครองข้าพเจ้า; ขอพระดาโมทรหริทรงพิทักษ์กายของข้าพเจ้า ทั้งภายนอกและภายใน।

Word by Word

• इन्द्र: O Indra
• इन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8/सम्बोधन), एकवचन — Vocative singular (addressing)

• गोप-प्रभः: the one whose splendor is like a cowherd (Gopa)
• गोप-प्रभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Nominative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गोपस्य प्रभा/प्रभः)

• पायात्: may (he) protect
• पायात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — 3rd person singular; परस्मैपद

• पाश-हस्तः: he who has a noose in his hand
• पाश-हस्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Nominative singular; बहुव्रीहि (यस्यान्ते/हस्ते पाशः सः)

• अपराजितः: unconquered, invincible
• अपराजितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपराजित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Nominative singular; विशेषण (qualifying the protector)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Pronoun, nominative singular

• बाह्य-अभ्यन्तरे: in the outer and inner (parts)
• बाह्य-अभ्यन्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्यन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), द्विवचन — Locative dual; द्वन्द्व (बाह्यं च अभ्यन्तरं च)

• देहम्: the body
• देहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• अव्यात्: may (he) protect
• अव्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — 3rd person singular; परस्मैपद

• दामोदरः: Dāmodara
• दामोदरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दामोदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Nominative singular; नाम (epithet)

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Nominative singular; apposition to दामोदरः

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada a protective Vishnu-mantra/anga-raksha style prayer)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Damodara

FAQs

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

It functions as a rakṣā-prayoga (protective invocation), affirming that Hari—invincible and radiant—guards the devotee’s entire being, not only the outer body but also the inner life-force, mind, and subtle vulnerabilities.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): the devotee directly appeals to Damodara/Hari as the sole protector, replacing fear and insecurity with remembrance and surrender to Vishnu’s guardianship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied mantra-recitation discipline (linked with Śikṣā for correct chanting and Chandas-style cadence): a concise, repeatable protective formula used in daily practice as part of ritualized remembrance of Vishnu.