Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

धनुश्च मुशलं चैव बिभ्राणं चक्रमुत्तमम् । खड्गं शूलं च बाणं च नृहरिं रुद्र रूपिणम् ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

dhanuśca muśalaṃ caiva bibhrāṇaṃ cakramuttamam | khaḍgaṃ śūlaṃ ca bāṇaṃ ca nṛhariṃ rudra rūpiṇam || 55 ||

Translation

他见到那位圣者尼诃利（那罗辛诃），现出如鲁陀罗般的威相，执弓与杵，持无上神轮，并佩剑、三叉戟与一支箭。

Word by Word

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात) ‘and’

• muśalam: club/pestle
• muśalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa-nipāta (अवधारण-निपात) ‘indeed/just’

• bibhrāṇam: bearing/carrying
• bibhrāṇam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण/participial qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhṛ (धातु) + śatṛ-pratyaya (शतृ)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (वर्तमानकृदन्त) śatṛ ‘carrying/bearing’; Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana (agreeing with implied object/description)

• cakram: discus
• cakram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• uttamam: excellent/supreme
• uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of cakram

• khaḍgam: sword
• khaḍgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• śūlam: trident/spear
• śūlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• bāṇam: arrow
• bāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• nṛharim: Nṛhari (Man-Lion, Narasiṃha)
• nṛharim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛhari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; samāsa: nṛ + hari (man-lion)

• rudra: Rudra
• rudra: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa-arthī (genitive sense) used as upapada in compound with rūpiṇam; (रुद्र-रूपिणम् = rudra-rūpiṇam)

• rūpiṇam: having the form of Rudra
• rūpiṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; samāsa: rudra-rūpin (रुद्ररूपिन्) ‘having Rudra-form’

Speaker

Narada (narrating/teaching within a dialogue context associated with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Nṛhari (Vishnu/Narasimha)
• Rudra (Shiva)

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes meditative recognition of the Lord’s protective, fierce compassion—Nṛhari appears with multiple weapons to destroy obstacles and uphold dharma, even in a Rudra-like intensity.

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

Bhakti here is strengthened through dhyāna (contemplation) and darśana-bhāva: visualizing the Lord’s form and attributes (weapons and fierce aspect) cultivates surrender and trust in divine protection.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly supports dhyāna and iconographic clarity rather than a specific Vedāṅga rule; it aids correct visualization used in mantra-japa and ritual worship (arcana) by specifying the Lord’s attributes.