Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

तत्पहाटककेशांत ज्वलत्पावकलोचन । वज्राधिकनखस्पर्शदिव्यसिंह नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

tatpahāṭakakeśāṃta jvalatpāvakalocana | vajrādhikanakhasparśadivyasiṃha namo'stu te || 11 ||

Translation

اے خالص سونے کی طرح چمکتے بالوں کے سِروں والے، آگ کی مانند دہکتے دیدوں والے، بجلی کے کوندے سے بھی سخت ناخنوں کے لمس والے، اے الٰہی شیر! تجھے نمسکار ہو۔

Word by Word

• तत्-पहाटक-केश-अन्त: O (one) whose hair-ends are of that gold
• तत्-पहाटक-केश-अन्त: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् + पहाटक + केश + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (सम्बोधन-प्रयोग)

• ज्वलत्-पावक-लोचन: O fire-flaming-eyed one
• ज्वलत्-पावक-लोचन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वलत् (कृदन्त) + पावक + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; ‘ज्वलत्पावक’ इव लोचनानि यस्य (कर्मधारय-समास)

• वज्र-अधिक-नख-स्पर्श-दिव्य-सिंह: O divine lion whose nail-touch is harder than a thunderbolt
• वज्र-अधिक-नख-स्पर्श-दिव्य-सिंह: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र + अधिक + नख + स्पर्श + दिव्य + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (विशेषणसमास)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Pratijna/भाव (भावार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (नमः + अस्तु)

• अस्तु: may it be
• अस्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: to you/your
• ते: Sampradana/Relation (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Narada (stuti addressed to Narasiṃha/Vishnu)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Narasimha

FAQs

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

It functions as a protective stuti: by contemplating Narasiṃha’s fiery gaze and vajra-like claws, the devotee invokes divine power that destroys fear and inner negativity while affirming surrender (namas).

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

Bhakti here is expressed as direct praise and self-offering—addressing the Lord’s attributes (golden mane, blazing eyes, invincible claws) to cultivate remembrance (smaraṇa) and reverent surrender (praṇipāta).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily chandas/alaṅkāra-style devotional diction rather than a technical Vedāṅga instruction; the practical takeaway is disciplined recitation (japa/pāṭha) of stuti as a sādhana within Purāṇic ritual devotion.