Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 161

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

Devanagari script

अंगान्यादौ च मत्स्याद्यान्दिग्दलेषु ततोऽचयेत् । इन्द्रा द्यानपि वज्राद्यान्सम्पूज्येष्टमवाप्नुयात् ॥ १६१ ॥

Transliteration

aṃgānyādau ca matsyādyāndigdaleṣu tato'cayet | indrā dyānapi vajrādyānsampūjyeṣṭamavāpnuyāt || 161 ||

Translation

Trước hết, hãy an trí các chi phần (aṅga) rồi đặt các biểu tượng bắt đầu từ Cá (Matsya) v.v. vào những cánh hoa theo các phương. Kế đó, thờ phụng Indra cùng các thần khác, kèm theo pháp khí như chày sét (vajra), thì sẽ đạt được điều mong cầu.

Word by Word

• aṅgāni: limbs/parts (ancillary members)
• aṅgāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; Accusative Plural Neuter

• ādau: at the beginning
• ādau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; Locative Singular Masculine (used adverbially: ‘at first’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक; conjunction ‘and’

• matsya-ādīn: Matsya and others
• matsya-ādīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: matsya (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आद्यर्थे); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; Accusative Plural Masculine

• dik-daleṣu: in the petals/sections of the directions
• dik-daleṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dik (प्रातिपदिक) + dala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; Locative Plural Neuter

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त; adverb ‘then/thereafter’

• cayet: should arrange/collect/place
• cayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ci (चि धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular optative (parasmaipada)

• indrān: Indras (deities named Indra)
• indrān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; Accusative Plural Masculine

• ādīn: and others
• ādīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; Accusative Plural Masculine (used as ‘and others’)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात; particle ‘also/even’

• vajra-ādīn: Vajra and others
• vajra-ādīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आद्यर्थे); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; Accusative Plural Masculine

• sampūjya: having fully worshipped
• sampūjya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (ल्यप्/त्वा-प्रत्यय), अव्ययभाव; absolutive/gerund ‘having duly worshipped’

• iṣṭam: the desired (result)
• iṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iṣṭa (इष्ट, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative Singular Neuter

• avāpnuyāt: should obtain
• avāpnuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava + āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular optative (parasmaipada)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Matsya

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship becomes effective when done in a properly ordered ritual structure—first arranging the deity’s parts and symbols, then honoring the directional deities with their insignia—so the rite yields its intended spiritual and material fruits.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined, reverential worship: devotion is not only emotion but also careful honoring of the divine order (directions, deities, and sacred emblems) as part of a complete puja.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual-technical knowledge used in kalpa-style procedure: mandala/directional segmentation (dig-dala), ordered installation (nyasa-like placement), and worship of dikpalas with their identifying weapons and symbols.