Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

गलासक्तलसद्बाहुस्पृष्टकेशोऽब्जचक्रधृक् । नखाग्रभिन्नदैत्येशो ज्वालामालासमन्वितः ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

galāsaktalasadbāhuspṛṣṭakeśo'bjacakradhṛk | nakhāgrabhinnadaityeśo jvālāmālāsamanvitaḥ || 34 ||

Translation

ด้วยวงแขนอันสุกสว่างรัดรอบลำคอ เส้นผมยุ่งจากการต่อสู้ ทรงถือดอกบัวและจักร—ทรงฉีกเจ้าแห่งไทตยะด้วยปลายเล็บ และทรงปรากฏงามท่ามกลางพวงมาลาแห่งเปลวเพลิง

Word by Word

• galā-sakta-lasat-bāhu-spṛṣṭa-keśaḥ: (he) whose hair is brushed by shining arms clinging to the neck
• galā-sakta-lasat-bāhu-spṛṣṭa-keśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: galā + sakta (√sañj/√saj + kta) + lasat (√las + śatṛ) + bāhu + spṛṣṭa (√spṛś + kta) + keśa (प्रातिपदिक-सङ्घात)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि: ‘he whose hair is touched by (his) shining arms attached to the neck’

• abja-cakra-dhṛk: holder of the lotus and discus
• abja-cakra-dhṛk: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abja + cakra + dhṛk (√dhṛ, धातु; agent noun)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘holding lotus and discus’ (dhṛk = ‘holder’)

• nakhāgra-bhinna-daitya-īśaḥ: (he) who split the demon-lord with the tips of his nails
• nakhāgra-bhinna-daitya-īśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nakha + agra + bhinna (√bhid + kta) + daitya + īśa (प्रातिपदिक-सङ्घात)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि: ‘he whose daitya-lord is split by the tips of (his) nails’

• jvālā-mālā-samanvitaḥ: endowed with a garland of flames
• jvālā-mālā-samanvitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jvālā + mālā + samanvita (sam-√i + kta) (प्रातिपदिक-सङ्घात)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तृतीया/सह-तत्पुरुष sense: ‘endowed/attended with a garland of flames’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Narasimha
• Hiranyakashipu
• Daityas

FAQs

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

It portrays the Lord’s decisive protection of dharma: when oppression peaks, Bhagavan manifests irresistible power (here as Narasimha) to destroy adharma and safeguard the devotee’s truth.

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

By highlighting Vishnu’s attributes and saving power, it encourages bhakti through remembrance (smaraṇa) and praise (stuti) of the Lord’s līlā—seeing divine protection as real and immediate.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not teaching a specific Vedanga rule directly, the verse exemplifies precise poetic description useful for chandas/alankāra awareness in traditional study, supporting disciplined recitation and textual comprehension.