Narasimha Purana — Chapter 17
NsP 17.1
किं जपन् मुच्यते तात सततं विष्णुतत्परः संसारदुःखात् सर्वेषां हिताय वद मे पितः
kiṃ japan mucyate tāta satataṃ viṣṇutatparaḥ saṃsāraduḥkhāt sarveṣāṃ hitāya vada me pitaḥ
Reciting what is one released, father, being constantly wholly devoted to Viṣṇu, from the sorrow of saṃsāra? For the good of all, tell me, father.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.2
अष्टाक्षरं प्रवक्ष्यामि मन्त्राणां मन्त्रम् उत्तमम् यं जपन् मुच्यते मर्त्यो जन्मसंसारबन्धनात्
aṣṭākṣaraṃ pravakṣyāmi mantrāṇāṃ mantram uttamam yaṃ japan mucyate martyo janmasaṃsārabandhanāt
I shall declare the eight-syllabled (mantra), the best of mantras, by reciting which a mortal is released from the bondage of birth and saṃsāra.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.3
हृत्पुण्डरीकमध्यस्थं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम् एकाग्रमनसा ध्यात्वा विष्णुं कुर्याज् जपं द्विजः
hṛtpuṇḍarīkamadhyasthaṃ śaṅkhacakragadādharam ekāgramanasā dhyātvā viṣṇuṃ kuryāj japaṃ dvijaḥ
Having meditated with a one-pointed mind on Viṣṇu, who stands in the middle of the heart's lotus and holds the conch, discus and mace, the twice-born should perform the recitation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.4
एकान्ते निर्जनस्थाने विष्ण्वग्रे वा जलान्तिके जपेद् अष्टाक्षरं मन्त्रं चित्ते विष्णुं निधाय वै
ekānte nirjanasthāne viṣṇvagre vā jalāntike japed aṣṭākṣaraṃ mantraṃ citte viṣṇuṃ nidhāya vai
In solitude, in an unpeopled place, or before (an image of) Viṣṇu, or near water, one should recite the eight-syllabled mantra, having indeed placed Viṣṇu in the mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.5
अष्टाक्षरस्य मन्त्रस्य ऋषिर् नारायणः स्वयम् छन्दश् च दैवी गायत्री परमात्मा च देवता
aṣṭākṣarasya mantrasya ṛṣir nārāyaṇaḥ svayam chandaś ca daivī gāyatrī paramātmā ca devatā
Of the eight-syllabled mantra the seer is Nārāyaṇa himself, the metre is the divine gāyatrī, and the deity is the supreme Self.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.6
शुक्लवर्णं च ॐकारं नकारं रक्तम् उच्यते मोकारं वर्णतः कृष्णं नाकारं रक्तम् उच्यते
śuklavarṇaṃ ca oṃkāraṃ nakāraṃ raktam ucyate mokāraṃ varṇataḥ kṛṣṇaṃ nākāraṃ raktam ucyate
The syllable Oṃ is white in colour, and the syllable NA is said to be red; the syllable MO is black in colour, and the syllable NĀ is said to be red.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.7
राकारं कुङ्कुमाभं तु यकारं पीतम् उच्यते णाकारम् अञ्जनाभं तु यकारं बहुवर्णकम्
rākāraṃ kuṅkumābhaṃ tu yakāraṃ pītam ucyate ṇākāram añjanābhaṃ tu yakāraṃ bahuvarṇakam
The syllable RĀ has the hue of saffron, while the syllable YA is said to be yellow; the syllable ṆĀ has the sheen of collyrium, while the (final) syllable YA is of many colours.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.8
ॐ नमो नारायणायेति मन्त्रः सर्वार्थसाधकः भक्तानां जपतां तात स्वर्गमोक्षफलप्रदः वेदानां प्रणयेनैष सिद्धो मन्त्रः सनातनः
oṃ namo nārāyaṇāyeti mantraḥ sarvārthasādhakaḥ bhaktānāṃ japatāṃ tāta svargamokṣaphalapradaḥ vedānāṃ praṇayenaiṣa siddho mantraḥ sanātanaḥ
"Oṃ, homage to Nārāyaṇa" — this mantra accomplishes every aim; for devotees who recite it, my son, it bestows the fruit of heaven and of release. This eternal mantra was made effective by the setting forth of the Vedas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
NsP 17.9
सर्वपापहरः श्रीमान् सर्वमन्त्रेषु चोत्तमः एनम् अष्टाक्षरं मन्त्रं जपन् नारायणं स्मरेत्
sarvapāpaharaḥ śrīmān sarvamantreṣu cottamaḥ enam aṣṭākṣaraṃ mantraṃ japan nārāyaṇaṃ smaret
It removes all sins, it is glorious, and it is the highest among all mantras. Reciting this eight-syllabled mantra, one should call Nārāyaṇa to mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.10
संध्यावसाने सततं सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते एष एव परो मन्त्र एष एव परं तपः
saṃdhyāvasāne satataṃ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate eṣa eva paro mantra eṣa eva paraṃ tapaḥ
(Doing so) constantly at the close of the twilight periods, one is wholly freed from all sins. This alone is the supreme mantra, this alone is the supreme austerity.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.11
एष एव परो मोक्ष एष स्वर्ग उदाहृतः सर्ववेदरहस्येभ्यः सार एष समुद्धृतः
eṣa eva paro mokṣa eṣa svarga udāhṛtaḥ sarvavedarahasyebhyaḥ sāra eṣa samuddhṛtaḥ
This alone is the supreme release, this is declared to be heaven; out of all the secrets of the Vedas this essence has been extracted.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.12
विष्णुना वैष्णवानां हि हिताय मनुजां पुरा एवं ज्ञात्वा ततो विप्रो ह्य् अष्टाक्षरम् इमं स्मरेत्
viṣṇunā vaiṣṇavānāṃ hi hitāya manujāṃ purā evaṃ jñātvā tato vipro hy aṣṭākṣaram imaṃ smaret
(It was extracted) of old by Viṣṇu for the welfare of the Vaiṣṇavas among men. Knowing this, therefore, a brahmin should keep this eight-syllabled (mantra) in mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.13
स्नात्वा शुचिः शुचौ देशे जपेत् पापविशुद्धये जपे दाने च होमे च गमने ध्यानपर्वसु
snātvā śuciḥ śucau deśe japet pāpaviśuddhaye jape dāne ca home ca gamane dhyānaparvasu
Having bathed and being pure, in a pure place, he should recite it for the cleansing away of sin — at recitation, at giving, at the fire-offering, when travelling, and on the occasions of meditation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.14
जपेन् नारायणं मन्त्रं कर्मपूर्वे परे तथा जपेत् सहस्रं नियुतं शुचिर् भूत्वा समाहितः
japen nārāyaṇaṃ mantraṃ karmapūrve pare tathā japet sahasraṃ niyutaṃ śucir bhūtvā samāhitaḥ
He should recite the Nārāyaṇa mantra both before and after (any) rite; having become pure and composed, he should recite it a thousand, or a hundred thousand, times.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.15
मासि मासि तु द्वादश्यां विष्णुभक्तो द्विजोत्तमः स्नात्वा शुचिर् जपेद् यस् तु नमो नारायणं शतम्
māsi māsi tu dvādaśyāṃ viṣṇubhakto dvijottamaḥ snātvā śucir japed yas tu namo nārāyaṇaṃ śatam
And the excellent twice-born man, a devotee of Viṣṇu, who month after month on the twelfth day bathes and, being pure, recites "homage to Nārāyaṇa" a hundred times —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.16
स गच्छेत् परमं देवं नारायणम् अनामयम् गन्धपुष्पादिभिर् विष्णुम् अनेनाराध्य यो जपेत्
sa gacchet paramaṃ devaṃ nārāyaṇam anāmayam gandhapuṣpādibhir viṣṇum anenārādhya yo japet
— he goes to the supreme god Nārāyaṇa, who is free from ill. And whoever worships Viṣṇu with fragrances, flowers and the rest, and (then) recites this (mantra) —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.17
महापातकयुक्तो ऽपि मुच्यते नात्र संशयः हृदि कृत्वा हरिं देवं मन्त्रम् एनं तु यो जपेत्
mahāpātakayukto 'pi mucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ hṛdi kṛtvā hariṃ devaṃ mantram enaṃ tu yo japet
— even though joined with a great sin, he is released; there is no doubt here. And whoever, having placed the god Hari in his heart, recites this mantra —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.18
सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा स गच्छेत् परमां गतिम् प्रथमेन तु लक्षेण आत्मशुद्धिर् भविष्यति
sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā sa gacchet paramāṃ gatim prathamena tu lakṣeṇa ātmaśuddhir bhaviṣyati
— his self cleansed of all sin, he goes to the highest goal. With the first hundred thousand (recitations) there will be purification of the self;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.19
द्वितीयेन तु लक्षेण मनुसिद्धिम् अवाप्नुयात् तृतीयेन तु लक्षेण स्वर्गलोकम् अवाप्नुयात्
dvitīyena tu lakṣeṇa manusiddhim avāpnuyāt tṛtīyena tu lakṣeṇa svargalokam avāpnuyāt
with the second hundred thousand he would attain mastery of the mantra; with the third hundred thousand he would attain the world of heaven;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.20
चतुर्थेन तु लक्षेण हरेः सामिप्यम् आप्नुयात् पञ्चमेन तु लक्षेण निर्मलं ज्ञानम् आप्नुयात्
caturthena tu lakṣeṇa hareḥ sāmipyam āpnuyāt pañcamena tu lakṣeṇa nirmalaṃ jñānam āpnuyāt
with the fourth hundred thousand he would attain nearness to Hari; with the fifth hundred thousand he would attain spotless knowledge;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.21
तथा षष्ठेन लक्षेण भवेद् विष्णौ स्थिरा मतिः सप्तमेन तु लक्षेण स्वरूपं प्रतिपद्यते
tathā ṣaṣṭhena lakṣeṇa bhaved viṣṇau sthirā matiḥ saptamena tu lakṣeṇa svarūpaṃ pratipadyate
likewise with the sixth hundred thousand his mind would become steady in Viṣṇu; and with the seventh hundred thousand he attains (Viṣṇu's) own form.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.22
अष्टमेन तु लक्षेण निर्वाणम् अधिगच्छति स्वस्वधर्मसमायुक्तं जपं कुर्याद् द्विजोत्तमः
aṣṭamena tu lakṣeṇa nirvāṇam adhigacchati svasvadharmasamāyuktaṃ japaṃ kuryād dvijottamaḥ
And with the eighth hundred thousand he reaches extinction. The excellent twice-born should perform the recitation in conjunction with his own respective duties.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.23
एतत् सिद्धिकरं मन्त्रम् अष्टाक्षरम् अतन्द्रितः दुःस्वप्नासुरपैशाचा उरगा ब्रह्मराक्षसाः
etat siddhikaraṃ mantram aṣṭākṣaram atandritaḥ duḥsvapnāsurapaiśācā uragā brahmarākṣasāḥ
(He should recite,) unwearied, this eight-syllabled mantra that brings success. Bad dreams, asuras and piśācas, snakes, brahma-rākṣasas,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.24
जापिनं नोपसर्पन्ति चौरक्षुद्राधयस् तथा एकाग्रमनसाव्याग्रो विष्णुभक्तो दृढव्रतः
jāpinaṃ nopasarpanti caurakṣudrādhayas tathā ekāgramanasāvyāgro viṣṇubhakto dṛḍhavrataḥ
thieves, and likewise petty ailments, do not approach the one who recites it. With mind one-pointed, unagitated, a devotee of Viṣṇu, firm in his vow,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.25
जपेन् नारायणं मन्त्रम् एतन् मृत्युभयापहम् मन्त्राणां परमो मन्त्रो देवतानां च दैवतम्
japen nārāyaṇaṃ mantram etan mṛtyubhayāpaham mantrāṇāṃ paramo mantro devatānāṃ ca daivatam
Let (him) recite this mantra of Nārāyaṇa, which takes away the fear of death — of mantras the highest mantra, and of the gods the god.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.26
गुह्यानां परमं गुह्यम् ॐकाराद्यक्षराष्टकम् आयुष्यं धनपुत्रांश् च पशून् विद्यां महद् यशः
guhyānāṃ paramaṃ guhyam oṃkārādyakṣarāṣṭakam āyuṣyaṃ dhanaputrāṃś ca paśūn vidyāṃ mahad yaśaḥ
(It is) the highest secret of secrets, the eight syllables beginning with Oṃ: long life, wealth and sons, cattle, learning, great fame —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.27
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षांश् च लभते च जपन् नरः एतत् सत्यं च धर्म्यं च वेदश्रुतिनिदर्शनात्
dharmārthakāmamokṣāṃś ca labhate ca japan naraḥ etat satyaṃ ca dharmyaṃ ca vedaśrutinidarśanāt
— and dharma, wealth, pleasure and liberation: a man who recites (it) obtains (these). This is true and in accord with dharma, on the evidence of the Vedic revelation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.28
एतत् सिद्धिकरं नॄणां मन्त्ररूपं न संशयः ऋषयः पितरो देवाः सिद्धास् त्व् असुरराक्षसाः
etat siddhikaraṃ nṝṇāṃ mantrarūpaṃ na saṃśayaḥ ṛṣayaḥ pitaro devāḥ siddhās tv asurarākṣasāḥ
This, in the form of a mantra, brings success to men — there is no doubt. The seers, the ancestors, the gods, the perfected ones, and the asuras and rākṣasas —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.29
एतद् एव परं जप्त्वा परां सिद्धिम् इतो गताः ज्ञात्वा यस् त्व् आत्मनः कालं शास्त्रान्तरविधानतः अन्तकाले जपन्न् एति तद् विष्णोः परमं पदम्
etad eva paraṃ japtvā parāṃ siddhim ito gatāḥ jñātvā yas tv ātmanaḥ kālaṃ śāstrāntaravidhānataḥ antakāle japann eti tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam
— having recited just this supreme (mantra), went from here to the highest attainment. And he who, knowing his own time by the prescription of the other treatises, recites (it) at the hour of death, goes to that supreme abode of Viṣṇu.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.30
नारायणाय नम इत्य् अयम् एव सत्यं संसारघोरविषसंहरणाय मन्त्रः शृण्वन्तु भव्यमतयो मुदितास् त्वरागा उच्चैस् तराम् उपदिशाम्य् अहम् ऊर्ध्वबाहुः
nārāyaṇāya nama ity ayam eva satyaṃ saṃsāraghoraviṣasaṃharaṇāya mantraḥ śṛṇvantu bhavyamatayo muditās tvarāgā uccais tarām upadiśāmy aham ūrdhvabāhuḥ
"Homage to Nārāyaṇa" — this alone is the truth, the mantra for destroying the dreadful poison of saṃsāra. Let those of auspicious mind listen, glad and free of passion; with arm raised aloft I proclaim it very loudly.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.31
भूत्वोर्ध्वबाहुर् अद्याहं सत्यपूर्वं ब्रवीम्य् अहम् हे पुत्र शिष्याः शृणुत न मन्त्रो ऽष्टाक्षरात् परः
bhūtvordhvabāhur adyāhaṃ satyapūrvaṃ bravīmy aham he putra śiṣyāḥ śṛṇuta na mantro 'ṣṭākṣarāt paraḥ
With my arm raised aloft I now speak, putting truth first: O son, O disciples, listen — there is no mantra higher than the eight-syllabled one.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.32
सत्यं सत्यं पुनः सत्यम् उत्क्षिप्य भुजम् उच्यते वेदाच् छास्त्रं परं नास्ति न देवः केशवात् परः
satyaṃ satyaṃ punaḥ satyam utkṣipya bhujam ucyate vedāc chāstraṃ paraṃ nāsti na devaḥ keśavāt paraḥ
Truly, truly, again truly it is said, with arm lifted up: there is no scripture higher than the Veda, no god higher than Keśava.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.33
आलोच्य सर्वशास्त्राणि विचार्य च पुनः पुनः इदम् एकं सुनिष्पन्नं ध्येयो नारायणः सदा
ālocya sarvaśāstrāṇi vicārya ca punaḥ punaḥ idam ekaṃ suniṣpannaṃ dhyeyo nārāyaṇaḥ sadā
Having surveyed all the scriptures and reflected again and again, this one thing is well established: Nārāyaṇa is always to be meditated upon.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.34
इत्य् एतत् सकलं प्रोक्तं शिष्याणां तव पुण्यदम् कथाश् च विविधाः प्रोक्ता मया भज जनार्दनम्
ity etat sakalaṃ proktaṃ śiṣyāṇāṃ tava puṇyadam kathāś ca vividhāḥ proktā mayā bhaja janārdanam
Thus all this, which bestows merit on your disciples, has been declared, and various tales have been told by me — worship Janārdana.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.35
अष्टाक्षरम् इमं मन्त्रं सर्वदुःखविनाशनम् जप पुत्र महाबुद्धे यदि सिद्धिम् अभीप्ससि
aṣṭākṣaram imaṃ mantraṃ sarvaduḥkhavināśanam japa putra mahābuddhe yadi siddhim abhīpsasi
Recite this eight-syllabled mantra, destroyer of all sorrow, O son of great intellect, if you desire attainment.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
NsP 17.36
इदं स्तवं व्यासमुखात् तु निस्सृतं संध्यात्रये ये पुरुषाः पठन्ति ते धौतपाण्डुरपटा इव राजहंसाः संसारसागरम् अपेतभयास् तरन्ति
idaṃ stavaṃ vyāsamukhāt tu nissṛtaṃ saṃdhyātraye ye puruṣāḥ paṭhanti te dhautapāṇḍurapaṭā iva rājahaṃsāḥ saṃsārasāgaram apetabhayās taranti
Those men who recite at the three junctures of the day this hymn that has come forth from Vyāsa's mouth cross the ocean of saṃsāra with fear gone, like royal geese (white) as washed pale cloth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition