Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

भुजैः परिघसङ्काशैर्द्दशभिश्चोपशोभितम् । अक्षस्रूत्रं गदापद्मं शङ्खं गोक्षीरसन्निभम् ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

bhujaiḥ parighasaṅkāśairddaśabhiścopaśobhitam | akṣasrūtraṃ gadāpadmaṃ śaṅkhaṃ gokṣīrasannibham || 54 ||

Translation

祂以十臂庄严，每臂如铁杵般雄健；光辉熠熠，手持念珠（akṣa-sūtra）、钉锤、莲华与白如牛乳之法螺。

Word by Word

• भुजैः: with arms
• भुजैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• परिघ-सङ्काशैः: resembling iron bars/maces
• परिघ-सङ्काशैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिघ (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (परिघवत् सङ्काशाः)

• दशभिः: by ten (arms)
• दशभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्/दश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सङ्ख्यावाचक) तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भुजैः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• उपशोभितम्: adorned
• उपशोभितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-शुभ्/शोभ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (well-adorned)

• अक्ष-सूत्रम्: rosary
• अक्ष-सूत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (अक्षाणां सूत्रम् = rosary)

• गदा-पद्मम्: mace and lotus
• गदा-पद्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (गदा च पद्मं च)

• शङ्खम्: conch
• शङ्खम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गो-क्षीर-सन्निभम्: resembling cow's milk (white)
• गो-क्षीर-सन्निभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (गोक्षीरवत् सन्निभम्)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It presents a contemplative description of a Vishnu-form: the many arms signify divine omnipotence, while the conch, lotus, mace, and rosary indicate protection, purity, righteous power, and japa—supporting focused upāsanā (devotional meditation).

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

By giving clear visual and symbolic markers for the deity, it guides the devotee’s dhyāna and pūjā—Bhakti becomes steady through form-based remembrance (smaraṇa) and mantra-japa (akṣa-sūtra).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with śikṣā/mantra practice and ritual upāsanā: the rosary implies disciplined japa, and the precise iconographic details support correct pūjā-vidhi and dhyāna-lakṣaṇa in a technical (Book 1.3) context.