Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

भालभ्रूमध्यवदने घंटिकाकण्ठहृत्सु च । नाभ्यधिष्ठानयोः पञ्च ताराद्याः सुभगादिकाः ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

bhālabhrūmadhyavadane ghaṃṭikākaṇṭhahṛtsu ca | nābhyadhiṣṭhānayoḥ pañca tārādyāḥ subhagādikāḥ || 55 ||

Translation

في الجبهة، وبين الحاجبين، وفي الوجه؛ وكذلك في اللهاة (كأنها «جرس صغير»)، وفي الحلق، وفي القلب؛ ثمّ في السُّرّة وفي قاعدة الأَدْهِشْثَانَة (adhiṣṭhāna)—توجد خمسُ قوى تبدأ بتارا (Tārā)، ومعها أخريات مثل سوبهاگا (Subhagā).

Word by Word

• भाल: forehead
• भाल: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (as member in compound)

• भ्रू: eyebrow
• भ्रू: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (as member in compound)

• मध्य: middle
• मध्य: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (as member in compound)

• वदने: in the face/mouth
• वदने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• घण्टिका: uvula/little bell (throat-part)
• घण्टिका: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घण्टिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (as member in compound)

• कण्ठ: throat/neck
• कण्ठ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (as member in compound)

• हृत्सु: in the hearts (heart-region)
• हृत्सु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

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

• नाभि: navel
• नाभि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (as member in compound)

• अधिष्ठानयोः: of the two bases (seats)
• अधिष्ठानयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिष्ठान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘of the two seats/bases’

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याशब्दः; प्रथमा-बहुवचनार्थे (agreeing with implied plural)

• ताराद्याः: (the five) beginning with Tārā
• ताराद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारा + आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तारया आद्याः = beginning with Tārā)

• सुभगादिकाः: (the set) beginning with Subhagā, etc.
• सुभगादिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुभगा + आदि + क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सुभगया आदिः येषाम्)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Vedanga/technical context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Tārā
• Subhagā

FAQs

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

It presents an internalized ritual model: sacred powers/vidyās are contemplated as residing in specific bodily seats, turning worship into an inward practice (antar-yāga) rather than only an external rite.

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

By assigning sacred presences to the forehead, heart, throat, and other centres, the verse supports devotional recollection (smaraṇa) throughout the body—especially heart-centred devotion—so the practitioner’s whole being becomes an offering.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with technical ritual methodology used in mantra practice—especially nyāsa (placing mantras/śaktis on body locations) and disciplined recitation—topics commonly treated alongside Vedāṅga-style procedural precision.