Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

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

Devanagari script

अक्षकाष्ठैरेधितेऽग्नौ विचिन्त्य रिपुमर्दनम् । देवं नृसिंहं सम्पूज्य कुसुमाद्युपचारकैः ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

akṣakāṣṭhairedhite'gnau vicintya ripumardanam | devaṃ nṛsiṃhaṃ sampūjya kusumādyupacārakaiḥ || 72 ||

Translation

Kapag ang apoy ay sinindihan gamit ang kahoy na akṣa, magnilay sa Panginoong Nṛsiṃha na dumudurog sa kaaway; at sambahin ang banal na Nṛsiṃha sa pamamagitan ng mga handog na bulaklak at iba pang paglilingkod-ritwal.

Word by Word

• akṣa-kāṣṭhaiḥ: with akṣa-wood (sticks)
• akṣa-kāṣṭhaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + kāṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• edhite: kindled
• edhite: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √edh (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/सप्तमी-एकवचन-सम्बद्ध; ‘edhite’ = ‘kindled’ qualifying agnau (locative absolute-like usage)

• agnau: in the fire
• agnau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• vicintya: having contemplated
• vicintya: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cint (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having contemplated’

• ripu-mardanam: enemy-crushing
• ripu-mardanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ripu (प्रातिपदिक) + mardana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying nṛsiṃham)

• devam: the god
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• nṛ-siṃham: Nṛsiṃha
• nṛ-siṃham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to devam

• sam-pūjya: having duly worshipped
• sam-pūjya: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√pūj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having worshipped’

• kusuma-ādi-upacārakaiḥ: with offerings such as flowers, etc.
• kusuma-ādi-upacārakaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kusuma (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + upacāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Narasimha
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It links outer rite (kindling the sacred fire with prescribed fuel) to inner practice (meditation on Nṛsiṃha as the destroyer of obstacles/enemies), showing that ritual becomes spiritually potent when joined with focused dhyāna and devotion.

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

Bhakti is expressed through remembering (vicintya) the Lord’s protecting form—Nṛsiṃha—and honoring Him with upacāras like flowers; devotion is not only emotion but also disciplined worship performed with reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects practical ritual discipline—proper agni preparation and prescribed materials (specific fuel-wood), along with structured upacāra offerings—typical of applied Vedic procedure aligned with technical instruction.