Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

श्वेतानिलाग्न्यंबुभूमिवर्णैः प्राग्वत्प्रविन्यसेत् । स्वबीजाद्यं कोपतत्वं नृसिंहं व्यापकेन च ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

śvetānilāgnyaṃbubhūmivarṇaiḥ prāgvatpravinyaset | svabījādyaṃ kopatatvaṃ nṛsiṃhaṃ vyāpakena ca || 20 ||

Translation

如前所述，应以与色相相应之音节依次安置（nyāsa）：白、风、火、水、地。继而从自身种子音（bīja）起，安置忿怒本理（kopa-tattva）之那罗辛哈（Nṛsiṃha），并与遍满一切之相（vyāpaka）同观。

Word by Word

• श्वेत-अनिल-अग्नि-अम्बु-भूमि-वर्णैः: with the colors of white, wind, fire, water, and earth
• श्वेत-अनिल-अग्नि-अम्बु-भूमि-वर्णैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक) + अनिल (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक) + भूमि (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; ‘with the colors (associated with) white, wind, fire, water, earth’

• प्राक्-वत्: as before
• प्राक्-वत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय) + वत् (अव्ययार्थ)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; क्रियाविशेषण—पूर्ववत् (as before)

• प्रवि: within/into
• प्रवि: क्रियाविशेषण (Preverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रवि (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश अव्यय; क्रियायोगे ‘प्रवि’ (into/within)

• न्यसेत्: should place/assign
• न्यसेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√अस्/न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; parasmaipada

• स्व-बीज-आद्यम्: (that which is) beginning with one’s own seed (mantra)
• स्व-बीज-आद्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + बीज (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular; ‘beginning with one’s own seed/mantra’

• कोप-तत्त्वम्: the principle of wrath
• कोप-तत्त्वम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular

• नृसिंहम्: Nṛsiṃha
• नृसिंहम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृसिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular

• व्यापकेन: with/by the all-pervading (one)
• व्यापकेन: करण/सह (Karaṇa or Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यापक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental singular

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the technical procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narasimha

FAQs

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

It teaches a protective, transformative practice: invoking Nṛsiṃha not only as a deity but as an inner, all-pervading power (vyāpaka) through disciplined nyāsa, aligning the practitioner with elemental and sonic order.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as embodied devotion—placing the Lord (Nṛsiṃha) through mantra and nyāsa so that remembrance becomes continuous and protective, especially through His kopa-tattva that removes obstacles and fear.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-śāstra technique tied to varṇa (phoneme) application and ritual sequencing (prāgvat), showing the practical side of Vedic sound-science used in worship and protective rites.