Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 190

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

Devanagari script

माल पण्डितमुण्डेति मत्स्य कूर्म ततः परम् । वराहान्ते नृसिंहेति वामनान्ते समीरयेत् ॥ १९० ॥

Transliteration

māla paṇḍitamuṇḍeti matsya kūrma tataḥ param | varāhānte nṛsiṃheti vāmanānte samīrayet || 190 ||

Translation

应依次诵念圣名：“Māla、Paṇḍita、Muṇḍa”；继而诵“鱼化身 Matsya”与“龟化身 Kūrma”。随后，在“野猪化身 Varāha”末尾加诵“人狮化身 Nṛsiṃha”，并在“侏儒化身 Vāmana”末尾依仪轨续诵下一名号。

Word by Word

• माल: (the word) “mālā”
• माल: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (feminine; nominative/accusative singular; form used as mantra-name/utterance)

• पण्डित-मुण्डा: “paṇḍitā and muṇḍā” (as a combined name)
• पण्डित-मुण्डा: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डित (प्रातिपदिक) + मुण्डा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (feminine; nominative/accusative singular; dvandva as a single mantra-name)

• इति: thus/“as”
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्तिसूचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• मत्स्य: Matsya
• मत्स्य: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (masculine; nominative/accusative singular; name)

• कूर्म: Kūrma
• कूर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (masculine; nominative/accusative singular; name)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रमवाचक/अपादानार्थक (indeclinable; ‘then/from that’)

• परम्: next/after that
• परम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगवत् अव्यय (used adverbially: ‘afterwards/next’)

• वराह-अन्ते: at the end of (the section/mantra of) Varāha
• वराह-अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराह (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (masculine; locative singular; ‘at the end of Varāha’)

• नृसिंह: Nṛsiṃha
• नृसिंह: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृसिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (masculine; nominative/accusative singular; name)

• इति: thus/“as”
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्तिसूचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• वामन-अन्ते: at the end of (the section/mantra of) Vāmana
• वामन-अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (masculine; locative singular; ‘at the end of Vāmana’)

• समीरयेत्: should utter/recite
• समीरयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-ईर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (optative; 3rd person singular; ‘should utter/recite’)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Matsya
• Kurma
• Varaha
• Nrsimha
• Vamana

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, ordered recitation of sacred names—especially Viṣṇu’s avatāras—showing that correct sequence and completion are part of the sanctity and efficacy of devotional practice.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as attentive nāma-recitation: remembering Viṣṇu through His avatāras with care for order and correctness, turning devotion into a precise, sustained contemplative practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (phonetics/recitation discipline) is implied—how and when to utter specific words (e.g., “at the end of Varāha…”)—reflecting technical rules for chanting and sequencing.